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OK  THE  LATE 


REV.    CHARLES    BUCK, 

I 


C02JTAI2TING 


COPIOUS  EXTRACTS  FROM  BIS  DLIRY, 


INTERESTING  LETTERS  TO  HIS  FRIENDS; 
INTERSPERSED    WITH 

Various  Observations,  explanatory  and  illustrative  of  his  Character 
and  Works. 


BY  JOHN  STYLES,  D.  D. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED  BY  ANTHONY  FINLEY, 

AT  THE  WHITE-HOUSE,  N.  E.  CORNER  OF-CHESNUT  AND  FOURTH 

STREETS. 

William  Fry,  Printer. 

1817. 


srfyf 


TO 


HIS  WIDOW  AND  CHILDREN, 

TO  THE 

CHURCH  WHICH  HE  FORMED, 

AND  OVER  WHICH 

HE  PRESIDED  TILL  HIS  DEATH; 

AND  TO  THE 

NUMEROUS  READERS  AND  ADMIRERS  OF 
HIS  WORKS; 

THESE 

MEMOIRS  AND  REMAINS 

OF  THE  LATE 

REV.  CHARLES  BUCK, 

ARE  RESPECTFULLY 

INSCRIBED  BY 

THE  AUTHOR- 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Introduction,  9 

CHAP.  I. 

From  his  birth  to  his  entering  upon  a  course 
of  study  at  Hoxton  Academy,  -         -       IS 

CHAP.  II. 

$rom  Mr.  Buck's  entering  upon  preparatory 
studies  for  the  ministry,  to  his  settlement 
at  Sheerness,  -         -  -         -     105 

CHAP.  III. 

3From  the  commencement  of  Mr.  Buck's  la- 
bours at  Sheerness  to  his  removal  from 
thence  to  Hackney,  -  230 

CHAP.  IV. 

The  settlement  of  Mr.  Buck  at  Hackney.— 
His  removal  to  London. — His  various  la- 
bours, publications,  and  death,  -         -     290 

Conclusion,         -         -         -         -         -        -     36 1 


PREFACE. 


The  Author  sincerely  hopes,  that  the  delay  of  this 
Publication,  occasioned  by  severe  and  long-protract- 
ed domestic  affliction,  will  not  prove  injurious  to 
the  Family  for  whose  benefit  it  is  intended.  The 
life  of  an  eminently  pious  man,  faithfully  written, 
can  never  be  out  of  date:  the  interest  which  it  ex- 
cites is  neither  local  nor  temporary.  Recollections 
of  such  a  man  as  Charles  Buck  will  be  always 
most  grateful  to  his  friends  and  instructive  to  the 
world,  especially  to  the  rising  ministry.  By  perma- 
nent memorials  of  the  great  and  good  we  retain 
their  examples,  after  the  individuals  themselves 
have  entered  upon  their  reward.  A  work  of  this 
nature  takes  its  station  in  the  moral  heavens,  and 
according  to  its  magnitude  and  lustre,  contributes 
its  proportion  of  that  light  which  guides  and  allures 
the  Christian  to  his  immortal  destiny. 

Brighton, 
February  25,  181 7. 


MEMOIRS  AND  REMAINS: 

£jc.  £jc.  £jc. 


INTRODUCTION. 

CHARLES  BUCK  is  so  peculiarly  endeared  to 
the  religious  public,  both  by  his  preaching  and 
writings,  that  his  name  will  be  long  cherished  with 
affectionate  remembrance.  Those  who  beheld,  ad- 
mired, and  loved  him,  during  his  luminous,  useful, 
and  rapid  transition  from  earth  to  heaven,  must 
naturally  desire  some  lasting  memorial  of  his  worth; 
and  the  multitudes  who  have  already  derived  the 
most  valuable  benefits  from  his  numerous  produc- 
tions, through  the  medium  of  the  press,  and  others 
to  whom,  in  future  times,  they  may  administer  in- 
struction and  comfort,  will  of  course  eagerly  en- 
quire, how  he  lived  and  died  to  whose  labours  they 
feel  themselves  so  greatly  indebted. 


i'O  INTRODUCTION. 

On  this  account  I  am  persuaded,  that  in  under- 
taking to  execute  a  portraiture  of  this  respectably- 
gifted  and  most  excellent  man,  I  am  rendering  no 
mean  service  to  the  Church  of  Christ. 

The  biography  of  good  and  useful  ministers  may 
excite  little  interest  in  a  world  which  crucified  their 
holy  and  benevolent  Master.  To  the  generality  of 
mankind  the  tale  may  appear  altogether  insipid 
which  narrates  the  work  of  grace  upon  the  heart  of 
an  individual,  and  the  labours  and  sufferings  of  that 
individual  in  promoting  the  salvation  of  souls  and 
the  glory  of  God;  but  those  whose  minds  are  chiefly 
attracted  by  the  invisible  realities  of  eternity,  will 
greatly  prefer  it  to  the  most  fascinating  productions 
which  describe  the  mere  hero  or  philosopher.  No 
species  of  writing  is  better  calculated  for  impression 
and  salutary  effect  than  this;  and  though  there  must 
necessarily  be  a  great  degree  of  sameness  in  the 
principles,  experience,  and  conduct  of  those  who 
embrace  the  same  profession,  and  are  placed  in  si- 
milar circumstances,  it  is  considerably  relieved  by 
the  peculiarities  of  the  individual  which  distinguish 
him  from  his  class;  and  with  whatever  disadvan- 
tages it  may  perplex  the  biographer,  who  often  feels 
a  painful  consciousness  that  he  is  walking  in  a  path 
so  beaten,  and  is  surrounded  with  scenery  so  fami- 
liar, that  he  can  scarcely  hope  to  awaken,  much  less 
to  reward,  attention;  yet  he  is  encouraged  by  the  re- 
flection, that  the  subject  of  his  narrative  is  present- 
ed to  his  readers  under  the  character  of  a  witness^ 
to  give  testimony  to  the  reality  and  power  of  true 
religion  in  the  heart,  that  his  testimony  must  there- 


INTRODUCTION.  It 

fore  substantially  agree  with  the  evidence  of  former 
witnesses,  and  that  so  far  the  absence  of  novelty  is 
amply  supplied.  For  my  own  part,  as  a  man,  I  am 
so  attached  to  the  study  of  human  nature,  that  he 
who  exhibits  only  a  single  variety  of  the  species,  or 
merely  adds  another  specimen,  in  my  opinion  coni- 
fers an  important  benefit  upon  mankind;  and  as  a 
Christian,  I  feel  so  deep  an  interest  in  viewing 
sanctified  human  nature,  under  all  the  forms  and 
operations  of  religious  principle,  that  every  memoir 
which  brings  this  prominently  before  me,  however 
defective  and  uninteresting  in  other  respects,  I  uni- 
formly deposit  among  my  most  precious  intellectual 
treasures. 

In  this  point  of  view,  the  imperfect  narrative 
which  Mr.  Buck  has  bequeathed  to  his  family  and 
the  church,  but  which  he  did  not  live  to  finish,  is  of 
the  greatest  value.  The  perusal  cannot  fail  to  im- 
press us  with  the  Conviction  that  he  was  a  man  of 
God;  that  in  his  preaching  and  writings  he  delivered 
the  sentiments  and  displayed  the  feelings  of  his 
heart.  The  sphere  of  professional  light  which  he 
threw  around  him  was  only  the  reflection  of  his  per- 
sonal virtues  and  piety.  May  we  follow  him  as  he 
followed  Christ!  From  the  papers  which  lie  before 
me,  it  is  evident  that  Mr.  Buck  did  not  draw  up  a 
circumstantial  account  of  his  life  merely  for  his  own 
use.  That  he  intended  to  prepare  a  volume  of  this 
nature  for  the  press,  is  clear,  from  the  following  ob- 
servations, which  are  written  in  a  book  of  memo- 
randa, containing  a  title-page  for  his  projected  work; 
and  as  it  is  my  intention,  as  far  as  it  is  practicable, 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

to  exhibit  the  deceased  in  his  own  language,  with 
these  extracts  I  shall  close  my  introductory  re- 
marks: 

"  If  the  conversion  of  a  soul  be  the  glory  of  God; 
the  triumph  of  the  Redeemer;  the  work  of  the  di- 
vine Spirit;  the  joy  of  angels;  the  accomplishment  of 
the  promise;  the  delight  of  the  church;  and  a  pre- 
sent and  everlasting  blessing  to  the  individual  him- 
self; then  to  hear  of  such  conversion  must  be  pecu- 
liarly pleasant  to  every  pious  mind. 

"  Those  who  publish  their  own  lives,  it  may  be 
said,  have  great  ideas  of  themselves;  they  are  afraid 
they  shall  find  no  biographer  after  they  are  dead; 
they  want  to  hear  their  own  praises;  and  besides, 
they  may  fall  into  disgrace  yet  before  they  die,  which 
will  eclipse  all  they  have  done  and  said.  To  all  this, 
however,  it  may  be  answered — 

u  1.  That  if  the  memoir  have  any  tendency  to 
show  the  displays  of  grace,  and  to  set  forth  the  glory 
of  God,  as  promoted  even  by  feeble  instruments, 
the  sooner  it  is  known  the  better. 

"  2.  If  some  had  not  written  and  published  their 
own  lives,  they  never  would  have  been  written  or 
published  at  all.  Manuscripts  are  sometimes  mis- 
laid, burnt,  neglected  by  survivors,  mutilated;  not 
always  decyphered  with  care. 

"  3.  It  is  not  novel;  Newton,  Scott,  and  many 
others  have  set  the  example  in  our  own  times,  and 
in  many  respects  a  man  can  publish  his  own  life,  as 
far  as  it  goes,  better  than  another  person  can  do  it 
for  him* 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

"4.  But  there  ought  to  be  something  remarkable, 
in  order  to  justify  an  individual  in  taking  such  a 
step?  If  the  sovereign  displays  of  divine  Providence 
be  worthy  of  attention;  if  the  conversion  of  a  soul  be 
any  thing  remarkable;  if  the  raising  up  from  obscu- 
rity an  instrument  comparatively  mean,  and  render- 
ing him  useful  in  the  world;  if  great  mercies  have 
been  received;  and  if  heavy  afflictions  have  been 
sanctified,  a  man  may  be  forgiven,  perhaps,  for  not 
delaying  the  account  to  the  last,  or  consigning  it  to 
the  hands  of  others;  he  may  be  excused  for  being 
anxious  to  say  himself,  in  the  vigour  of  his  faculties, 
"  Come  and  hear,  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  /  will 
tell  you  what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul." 


MEMOIRS,   $c. 


CHAP.  I. 


From  his  Birth  to  his  entering  upon  a  Course  of 
Study  at  Hoxton  Academy* 

The  Rev.  Charles  Buck,  like  most  of  the  faith- 
ful ministers  of  Jesus  Christ,  was  born  not  of  opu- 
lent, but  of  respectable  parents.  His  native  place  is 
a  small  village,  called  Hillsley,  near  Wotton  Under- 
edge,  Gloucestershire.  He  was  the  last  child  but 
one,  by  the  second  husband,  of  his  mother,  and  he 
dates  his  birth  in  the  year  1771.  He  was  early 
placed  at  a  boarding  school  in  the  same  village,  su- 
perintended by  the  Rev.  William  Hitchman,  a  dis- 
senting minister  of  the  Baptist  persuasion.  Of  this 
excellent  man,  now  forgotten,  or  known  only  in  the 
fading  annals  of  the  neighbourhood,  where  for  many 
years  he  acted  a  conspicuous  part,  Mr.  Buck  has 
given  the  following  account: — "  In  addition  to  his 
labours  as  a  preacher,  he  laid  himself  out  for  gene- 
ral usefulness  in  this  and  the  surrounding  places. 
There  was  hardly  any  thing  that  he  could  not  do. 


16 


MEMOIRS  OF  THE 


The  weak  and  superstitious  consulted  him  in  the 
hour  of  alarm;  parents  sent  their  profligate  sons  to 
him  to  be  instructed  and  reformed;  the  watchmaker 
employed  him  to  make  calculations;  farmers  en- 
gaged him  to  measure  their  lands,  in  which  I  often 
used  to  assist  him.  He  studied  pharmacy,  and  could 
mix  a  medicine,  extract  a  tooth,  and  use  the  lancet 
as  well  as  many  gentlemen  of  the  profession.  He 
gave  advice  to  the  poor,  made  the  wills  of  those 
who  possessed  property,  and  was  ready  to  do  good 
to  all.  He  could  construct  a  weather-glass,  draw  a 
map,  and  make  an  almanack.  He  was  a  very  assi- 
duous cultivator  of  his  garden  and  orchard,  and  was 
no  stranger  to  the  science  of  botany.  Above  all,  he 
was  a  good  man,  and  shone  as  a  light  in  a  dark  vil- 
lage for  many  years." 

Under  the  care  of  Mr.  Hitchman  our  young 
friend  was  initiated  into  the  common  branches  of 
what  is  generally  called  an  English  education.  He 
attended  the  ministry  of  his  tutor,  and  obtained  by 
this  means  some  knowledge  of  the  holy  Scriptures, 
and  acquired  the  important  habit  of  paying  an  out- 
ward reverence  to  the  Sabbath.  Partial  and  tran- 
sient convictions  were  also  occasionally  produced  on 
his  mind,  and  he  mentions  composing  a  prayer  and 
a  hymn,  which,  when  shown  to  his  mother,  excited 
the  good  woman's  astonishment. 

The  sudden  death  of  his  youngest  sister,  and  the 
almost  equally  unexpected  departure  of  his  father 
about  three  weeks  afterwards,  in  the-  bed  where 
himself  was  sleeping  at  the  time,  solemnly  affected 
him,  chilled  his  soul  with   momentary  horror,  and 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  17 

an  apprehension  of  that  dread  something  after  death, 
gave  him  "  pause;"  yet  he  observes,  "  no  convic- 
tions I  had  received  seemed  to  be  of  a  lasting  na- 
ture." 

He  left  school  about  the  age  of  thirteen,  and  was 
so  captivated  by  the  vanities  of  the  world,  as  en- 
tirely to  give  himself  up  to  amusement  and  folly. 
Dancing  was  his  favourite  pleasure,  in  which  he 
once  indulged  to  such  excess,  that  his  life  had  well 
nigh  fallen  a  sacrifice.  During  his  juvenile  years  he 
experienced  repeated  deliverances  from  various  im- 
minent dangers,  which  he  devoutly  ascribes  to  the 
superintending  care  of  the  Almighty.  u  By  the  pro- 
vidence of  God  (says  he)  I  was  spared  through  all, 
so  that  I  could  say  with  Job,  '  thou  hast  granted  me 
life  and  favour,  and  thy  visitation  hath  preserved 
my  spirit.'"  In  the  year  1785,  he  left  his  native 
village,  and  visited  London.  Of  the  magnificence  and 
splendour  of  the  metropolis  he  had  heard  so  much, 
that  he  greatly  longed  to  traverse  its  streets,  that  he 
might  survey  its  grand  and  lofty  buildings:  but  the 
City  of  his  imagination,  and  that  which  actually  rose 
before  his  view  at  the  close  of  his  anxious  journey 
were  utterly  dissimilar.  This  he  has  recorded  among 
his  earliest  disappointments.  The  instance  is  trivial, 
and  may  excite  a  smile;  yet  perhaps  some  of  our 
most  painful  emotions  may  be  traced  to  the  same 
source.  We  need  not  to  be  told  that  those  are  mo- 
ments of  anguish  in  which  the  dream  of  Fancy  va- 
nishes before  the  comparatively  dull  realities  of  life, 
and  that  the  pleasures  of  hope  are  almost  the  only 
-pleasures    which    the   objects    it    anticipates    ever 

B2 


18  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

afford;  that  in  possession  these  objects  aveng* 
themselves  by  inflicting  the  pangs  of  disappointment 
on  the  heart  that  in  expectation  was  weak  enough 
to  make  them  the  depository  of  its  happiness. 

*'  'Tis  distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view.** 

In  London  Mr.  Buck  sought  and  soon  obtained 
a  situation  which  not  only  accorded  with  the  views 
of  his    affectionate  parent,   who    had  accompanied 
him,  but  was  also  perfectly  congenial  with  his  own 
wishes.   He  was  admitted  into  the  office  of  an  attor- 
ney, where  he    devoted   himself  to  the  study  and 
practice  of  the  law.  "  I  was  always   (he  observes) 
from  a  child   remarkably  fond  of  my  pen  and  the 
desk,  and  remember,  in  very  early  age,  an   impres- 
sion on  my  mind,  that  if  ever  I  could  obtain  a  room, 
with  a  desk  to  write  on,  I  should  be  the  happiest  of 
beings."   Here  Mr.   Buck  conducted   himself  with 
such   a  sacred   regard  to  honesty   and  punctuality, 
that,  though  his  salary  at  first  was  very  small,  he 
wTas  soon  favoured  with  increased  advantages,  and 
gained  the  fullest  confidence  of  his  employers.  "  I 
was  determined  (says  he)  to   be  punctual  and  ho- 
nest, and  from   my  own  experience  I  can  most  ear- 
nestly recommend  to  all  young  persons  who  wish  to 
rise  to  any  degree  of  respectability  in  life,  who  are 
desirous  of  being  successful  in  the  world,  and  use- 
ful to  society,  to   observe  these  two  things;  these 
have  advanced  many  a  man  who  entered  London 
with   scarcely  a  shilling  in  his   pocket,   to  circum- 
stances of  opulence  and  stations  of  influence." 
The  account  of  his  usual  manner  of  spending  his 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  19 

leisure  hours  up  to  the  period  of  his  conversion, 
Mr.  Buck  shall  relate  in  his  own  language.  "  !• 
have  observed  before,  that  very  early  I  was  too 
fond  of  public  amusements.  Being  now  in  London, 
I  gave  full  range  to  my  desires,  and  here  every 
thing  met  my  most  ardent  wishes.  What  I  had  seen 
of  theatrical  exhibitions  in  the  country  were  all  no- 
thing compared  with  those  in  town:  now  I  was  gra- 
tified indeed,  and  almost  every  evening  found  me  at 
the  theatre,  or  some  other  place  of  gay  resort.  This, 
however,  I  soon  discovered  to  be  pernicious,  and 
though  I  am  no  enemy  to  amusements  of  a  proper 
kind,  yet  in  these  the  temptations  are  so  fascinating, 
and  the  danger  so  great,  that  I  would  warn  all  young 
persons  to  avoid  the  snare.  I  have  trodden  the 
ground,  and  know  what  it  is.  Character,  property, 
health,  peace,  conscience,  are  too  often  sacrificed  at 
this  altar.  At  this  time  I  was  just  about  launching 
into  all  the  dissipations  and  licentiousness  of  the 
profligate.  Sometimes,  indeed,  I  attended  the  church 
on  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath;  but  the  Park,  the 
Mall,  the  public  gardens,  were  my  resort  in  the 
after  part  of  the  day.  I  had  some  few  friends  in 
London,  but  none  of  them  pious:  my  mother  had 
retired  again  into  the  country,  and  I  was  left  with- 
out any  faithful  instructor,  monitor,  or  guide;  I 
therefore  pursued  my  course,  exposed  to  every 
temptation,  and  on  the  very  brink  of  destruction." 
Fascinated,  carried  away  by  the  impetuous  tor- 
rent of  what  the  apostle  Paul  denominates  "  the 
course  of  this  world,"  how  wonderful  was  the  coun- 
teracting energy  of  divine  grace,  which  in  a  moment 


20  MEMOIRS  OP  THE 

arrested  the  progress  of  this  gay  and  thoughtless 
trifler,  drew  him  from  the  gulf  into  which  he  was 
about  to  be  hurried,  a  gulf  in  which  thousands  pe- 
rished, perhaps,  at  the  very  moment  when  he  was 
saved,  and  into  which  myriads  of  the  human  race 
are  daily  sinking  to  rise  no  more.  Well  might  he 
exclaim,  in  reference  to  this  most  important  event 
in  his  life,  "  Behold  a  miracle!"  In  truth,  every  in- 
stance of  conversion  deserves  this  character.  It  is  a 
supernatural  display  of  the  power  of  God,  which  is 
as  contrary  to  the  common  course  of  Providence  as 
the  standing --still  of  the  sun  and  moon,  and  the 
quickening  of  the  dead.  There  is  also  usually  such 
inadequacy  between  the  means  and  the  end,  that 
human  agency  is  lost  in  the  manifestation  of  divine 
interposition,  and  he  must  be  blind  to  the  natural 
operation  of  causes,  which  can  never  produce  effects 
beyond  and  above  themselves,  who  does  not  recog- 
nize the  finger  of  God  in  that  change  which  Mr. 
Buck  was  now  brought  to  experience.  He  thus  de- 
scribes its  circumstances  and  consequences. 

"  A  respectable  gentleman,*  who  was  blind,  vi- 
sited the  family  where  I  resided.  This  gentleman 
was  serious;  and  a  young  man  usually  accompanied 
him  not  much  older  than  myself,  who  was  likewise 
a  sincere  and  zealous  Christian.  Not  having  any 
particular  social  companion,  this  youth  was  recom- 
mended to  me  as  a  fit  person.  We  soon  became  ac- 
quainted. One  evening  we  took  a  walk  together  to 

*  Mr.  Thomas  Atkins.  Mr.  Buck,  in  the  year  1812,  published 
g  very  interesting  memoir  of  his  life  and  death. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  21 

Black  friars  Bridge,  and  there,  perhaps,  I  may  say, 
I  first  received  my  saving  impressions.  My  young 
friend  began  discoursing  on  religious  subjects.  As 
we  were  talking  on  the  joys  of  heaven,  and  the  fu- 
ture misery  of  the  wicked,  I  was  irresistibly  struck 
with  the  thought — u  What  a  degree  of  folly  must  I 
be  guilty  of  to  pursue  wickedness,  and  be  miserable 
at  last,  and  not  to  follow  holiness,  and  be  happy  for 
ever  in  a  better  world!"  I  could  not  easily  get  rid 
of  this  reflection,  it  came  home  to  my  heart;  I  saw 
I  was  a  sinner,  and  that  it  was  high  time  for  me  to 
implore  mercy,  and  seek  the  things  which  are  above. 
— I  mentioned  my  feelings  to  my  companion:  he 
was  pleased,  and  gave  me  every  encouragement  and 
advice  he  could.  We  separated.  I  went  home  with 
new  feelings,  which  I  shall  never  forget.  I  am  no 
great  friend  to  very  sudden  conversions;  perhaps  in 
my  own  case  the  seed  might  have  been  sown  while 
sitting  under  an  evangelical  ministry  at  school.  And 
here  I  would  suggest  the  propriety  of  parents  plac- 
ing out  their  children  where  they  may  be  in  the  ha- 
bit of  hearing  the  gospel  continually.  It  is  of  the 
last  importance;  for  though  no  effects  may  be  vK 
sible  at  first,  yet  conviction  may  be  wrought,  know- 
ledge communicated,  the  scriptures  rendered  fami- 
liar, and  prejudice  removed,  so  that  at  last,  under 
the  divine  blessing,  it  may  tend  to  the  happiest  re- 
sults. In  many  instances  this  has  been  realized, 
while  multitudes  of  parents  who  have  been  negli- 
gent as  to  this  point  have  had  to  deplore  the  infi- 
delity, profaneness,  and  disobedience  of  their  off- 
spring." 


22  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

"  But  to  return.  After  this  interesting  conversa- 
tion, when  I  arrived  at  home,  instead  of  employing 
myself  as  usual,  in  trifles,  I  began  to  rummage 
about  for  a  Bible,  and  to  my  great  joy  at  last  found 
one.  I  shall  never  forget  the  pleasing  sensations 
with  which  I  opened  that  blessed  book.  It  was  like 
a  new  world  to  me.  I  began  to  read  as  one  that 
was  interested;  my  whole  soul  was  engaged  in  it. 
My  companion  soon  after  finding  this,  made  me  a 
present  of  a  Bible,  in  which  there  were  some  of  his 
marks  attached  to  particular  texts,  which  had  either 
been  explained  from  the  pulpit,  or  which  in  their 
perusal  had  afforded  him  peculiar  instruction  or 
consolation.  This  method  I  also  adopted;  and  it  is 
with  great  pleasure  I  sometimes  turn  over  the  leaves 
of  this  friend  and  guide  of  my  youth,  where  I  be- 
hold many  passages,  which  recall  some  of  the  most 
exquisite  enjoyments  of  my  happiest  days.  I  seem 
to  live  these  delightful  seasons  over  again,  and 
though  in  the  review  of  all  the  past  I  cannot  but  be 
deeply  humbled,  these  are  bright  spots,  illumined  by^ 
the  splendour  of  heavenly  wisdom  and  mercy, 
which  exhilirate  my  soul  amidst  the  dreary  waste 
of  mis-spent  time  and  mercies  unimproved." 

"  Thus  I  seemed  to  have  been  drawn  by  the 
cords  of  love  and  the  bands  of  a  man,  rather  than 
by  any  violent  terrors  or  great  agitations  of  mind. 
Thus  the  Almighty  acts  as  a  sovereign.  Some  he 
visits  with  the  most  dreadful  and  pungent  convic- 
tions, while  others  are  gently  constrained  to  enter 
upon  this  holy  and  delightful  career. 

"  But  it  may  be  asked,  Does  conversion  make  a 


REV.  CHARLES  RUCK,  23 

man  an  angel?   Does  it  at  once,  or  ever  in  the  pre- 
sent world,  transform  him  from  all  that  is  base  into 
a  perfect  creature?  Surely  not.   The  work  of  rege- 
neration, or  the  communication  of  the  divine  prin- 
ciple of  life,  may  be  considered   as   instantaneous; 
but  the  effects  are  not  all  visible  at  once.  There  is 
first  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  and  then  the  full  corn 
in   the  ear.    Every    thing   grand   and  magnificent, 
both  in  art  and  nature,  has  been  and  is  produced  in 
a  progressive  manner;  so  I  believe  it  is  with  reli- 
gion, or  the  work  of  God  on  the  mind   of  man.   It 
begins  in  conversion,  proceeds  in  sanctification,  and 
is  perfected  in  heavenly  glory."  It  is  impossible  for 
a  mind  imbued  with  the  knowledge  of  the  scriptures, 
and  with  the  spirit  of  evangelical  piety,  not  to  ac- 
cede to  these  very  clear  and  just  views  of  Mr.  Buck, 
on  a  subject  which  has  excited  more  of  the  u  Odium 
Theologiciun"  than  almost  any  other  in  the  whole 
system  of  divinity.  How  remote  are  they  from  the 
arrogant  claims   of  Arminianism  on   the  one  hand, 
and  the  degrading  absurdities  of  Antinomianism  on 
the  other!  The  one  theory  maintains  the  doctrine  of 
sinless  perfection  in  this  life;  the  other  affirms,  that 
conversion  produces  no  renovation  of  the  depraved 
heart  of  man,  and  that  "  growth  in  grace"  is  impos- 
sible.  As  the  latter  error  is  by  far  the  most  preva- 
lent, because  it  is  most  congenial  with  the  unholy 
principles  of  our  nature,  I  shall  digress  a  little  more 
at  length,  in  order  to  expose  its  pernicious  and  un- 
scriptural  character.  The  advocates  of  this  delusion 
seem  entirely   to  forget   the   apostle's   declaration; 
"  If  any  man  be  in  Christ  Jesus,  he  is  a  new  crea- 


24  MEMOH&S  OF  THE 

ture;  old  things  are  passed  away,  and  behold  all 
things  are  become  new."  According  to  them,  the 
phrase  "  is  a  new  creature,"  ought  to  be  changed 
into  has  a  new  creature;  and  instead  of  "  old  things 
are  passed  away,"  it  ought  to  read,  "  old  things," 
that  is,  u  old  principles,  old  habits,  remain  in  all 
their  inveteracy."  Misunderstanding,  or  grievously 
perverting  the  energetic  and  impassioned  language 
of  St.  Paul,  when  he  describes  his  inward  and  vio- 
lent conflicts,  when  he  speaks  of  grace  as  distinct 
from  nature  and  opposed  to  it,  they  contend  that  a 
man  is  as  unholy  and  corrupt  after  his  conversion 
as  he  was  before;  that  in  fact  he  is  the  subject  of  no 
divine  change;  but  that  a  new,  an  uncongenial,  and 
as  far  as  regards  the  carnal  mind,  an  inoperative  na- 
ture is  placed  within  him;  just  as  a  Bible  may  be 
bound  up  in  the  same  volume  between  Paine's  Age 
of  Reason  and  Rousseau's  Confessions,  without  im- 
parting any  of  its  truth  or  purity  to  the  infidel  and 
unholy  productions  with  which  it  is  most  heteroge- 
neously  combined;  nay,  it  is  more  strangely  main- 
tained by  these  misguided  individuals,  that  the 
principle  of  spiritual  life  in  a  believer  has  no  other 
relation  to  his  depravity  than  to  exhibit  and  inflame 
it.  When  this  statement  is  Opposed,  when  the  very 
texts  of  scripture  on  which  they  rely  are  quoted 
against  themselves,  and  a  body  of  irresistible  evi- 
dence compels  them  to  relinquish  every  form  of  le- 
gitimate argument,  they  turn  round  upon  us  with 
an  air  of  triumph,  and  ask  the  sapient  questions — 
Is  not  flesh  still  flesh?  Is  the  old  man  with  his  affec- 
tions and  lusts  changed?    Is  he  not  altogether  a  dif- 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  25 

fercnt  being  from  the  "  new  man  which  after  God 
is  created  in  righteousness  and  true  holiness?" — 
Now  it  appears  to  me,  that  this  js  totally  giving  up 
the  point  in  question,  or  involving  a  plain  subject  in 
unnecessary  ambiguity.  We  affirm,  according  to 
the  scriptures,  that  the  human  nature  experiences  a 
spiritual  renovation  in  every  case  of  real  conversion, 
and  those  who  contradict  this  statement  flatter 
themselves  that  they  completely  overturn  our  hypo- 
thesis, by  maintaining  that  flesh  cannot  be  converted 
into  spirit,  nor  sin  into  holiness.  But  do  the  advo- 
cates of  the  reality  of  a  change  of  heart,  as  implied 
in  the  very  essence  of  regeneration,  contend  for  any 
thing  so  ineffably  absurd  as  identifying  flesh  and 
spirit,  sin  and  holiness?  Certainly  not.  The  change 
for  which  we  plead  does  not  alter  the  nature  of  what 
is  meant  by  the  flesh,  as  distinguished  from  the 
spirit,  nor  does  it  transmute  sin  into  any  thing  dif- 
ferent from  itself;  but  it  brings  the  flesh  into  sub- 
jection to  the  spirit,  and  counteracts  the  principles 
of  sin  in  the  heart,  by  enlightening  the  understand- 
ing, purifying  the  affections,  and  determining  the 
will.  The  change  consists  in  light  in  the  understand- 
ing, holiness  in  the  heart,  and  virtue  in  the  actions. 
Thus  it  is  radical,  and  affects  the  grand  component 
parts  and  characteristic  faculties  of  our  nature. 
Perhaps  this  change  cannot  be  better  described  than 
in  the  language  of  the  judicious  Dr.  Witherspoon, 
whose  treatise  on  Regeneration  cannot  be  too  strongly 
recommended. 

"  Regeneration   is    the    recovery    of    the    moral 
image  of  God  upon  the  heart;  that  is  to  say,  to  love 

C 


26  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 

him  supremely,  and  serve  him  ultimately  as  our 
highest  end,  and  to  delight  in  him  superlatively  as 
our  chief  good."  That  the  tendency  of  this  principle 
is  to  growth  and  increase,  and  that  wherever  it  is 
communicated,  it  is  distinguished  by  progress  and 
gradual  advancement,  cannot  be  doubted,  whether 
we  reason  from  analogy,  from  scriptural  precept3 
and  examples,  or  from  observation  and  experience. 
The  argument  I  must  not  now  pursue;  but  shall 
merely  continue  the  quotation  from  Dr.  Wither- 
spoon:— "This  recovery  however,  is  but  begun  on 
earth;  it  is  gradually  improved  in  the  progress  of 
sanctification,  and  shall  be  fully  completed  at  the 
resurrection  of  the  just.  The  sum  of  the  moral  law 
is  to  love  the  Lord  our  God  with  all  our  heart,  and 
soul,  and  strength,  and  mind.  This  is  the  duty  of 
every  rational  creature;  and  in  order  to  obey  it  per- 
fectly, no  part  of  our  inward  affection  or  actual  ser- 
vice ought  to  be,  at  any  time,  or  in  the  least  degree, 
misapplied.  This  is  the  case  with  no  mere  man  while 
he  continues  in  the  body.  But  regeneration  consists 
in  the  principle  being  implanted,  obtaining  the  as- 
cendancy, and  habitually  prevailing  over  its  oppo- 
site." 

Under  its  operation  the  soul,  in  all  its  powers, 
remains  essentially  the  same,  and  the  depravity  with 
which  it  has  been  polluted  is  unchanged  in  its  na- 
ture; but  these  powers  are  regulated  by  new  princi- 
ples, and  have  received  a  new  direction,  and  this  de- 
pravity is  lessened  in  degree.  As  the  new  man  in- 
creases in  strength,  the  old  man,  to  use  the  apostle's 
language,  is  "  put  oft;1'  but  this  yields  no  occasion 


UEV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  »< 

for  self-gratulation.  Advancement  in  holiness  can- 
not minister  to  pride.  It  is  the  work  of  God;  it  is 
one  cf  the  richest  blessings  of  cur  salvation;  the 
more  valuable  the  obligation,  the  more  profound 
should  be  our  humility.  It  is  not  possible  to  grow 
in  grace  without  becoming  more  humble,  without 
additional  self-loathing;  indeed,  increasingly  to  dis- 
cover our  in-bred  corruptions,  and  proportionally  to 
distrust  and  abhor  ourselves,  on  this  account,  is  part 
of  that  growth  in  grace  which  is  essential  to  all  per- 
sonal religion.  Perhaps  the  very  acme  of  meetness 
for  a  state  of  glory  consists  in  the  union  of  a  clear 
perception,  and  vehement  abhorrence  of  our  sinful- 
ness,— a  perfect  and  exclusive  resting  for  justifica- 
tion on  the  infinite  merits  of  our  blessed  Redeemer, 
— and  an  intense  desire  after  communion  with  God 
in  his  immaculate  purity.  But  it  is  time  to  resume 
the  narrative  of  Mr.  Buck. — Immediately  subse- 
quent to  the  remarks  which  led  to  this  digression, 
he  proceeds — 

u  After  what  I  have  said  of  the  delight  I  found  in 
perusing  the  Bible,  it  will  be  naturally  supposed, 
that  from  that  moment  I  had  renounced  the  world: 
so,  perhaps,  I  had  intentionally;  but  in  a  week  or 
two  after,  the  old  temptation  was  presented,  and  it 
was  suggested  to  my  mind,  that  there  would  be  no 
harm  in  occasionally  attending  public  amusements. 
This  induced  me  to  make  the  experiment;  and, 
shame  to  me  while  I  say  it,  the  very  evening  my 
new  companion  came  to  spend  with  me,  I  pleaded  an 
excuse  of  being  engaged.  He  left  me,  and  I  set  off 
to  the  theatre.  Here,  however,  I  was  miserable;  still 


28  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

I  tried  once  more,  but  it  would  not  do.  I  was  so  ter- 
rified at  the  thought,  that  if  death  or  judgment 
should  find  me  here,  how  deplorable  would  be  my 
condition.  I  therefore  left  the  place,  wounded  in  my 
conscience,  and  determined  to  go  no  more.  I  soon 
became  more  decided,  and  refused  all  solicitations 
of  this  kind.  This  was  immediately  discovered  by 
my  friends  and  acquaintance:  persecution  com- 
menced, opprobrious  epithets  were  used,  ridicule 
employed,  temptations  placed  in  my  way,  the  Bible 
thrown  at  my  head,"*"  but  all  to  no  effect.  That  pas- 
sage in  the  fifth  of  Matthew,  "  Blessed  are  they 
which  are  persecuted  for  righteousness-sake,  for 
theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven,"  was  a  great  sup- 
port to  my  mind,  and  I  cheerfully  endured  all  the 
reproaches  and  contempt  cast  upon  me. 

"  No  sooner  had  I  become  a  little  courageous  and 
decided,  than  a  new  temptation  assailed  me;  and 
perhaps  it  is  not  uncommon  to  young  converts.  I 
was  dreadfully  harassed  with  the  thought  that  I  had 
sinned  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  because  I  remem- 
bered that  once  when  I  was  a  school-boy,  I  had,  in 
a  moment  of  passion,  cursed  the  Bible.  I  was  also 
tempted  at  this  very  time  to  blaspheme  the  Holy 
Ghost:  this  filled  me  with  great  distress;  but  by  th# 
suitable  advice  and  consolation  of  my  companion,  I 
was  delivered  from  these  painful  feelings." 

Should  the  eye  of  a  sincere  and  humble  enquirer, 


*  The  very  person  who  did  this  was  afterwards,  by  the  bless- 
ingofGod,  on  my  reasoning  and  exhortation,  brought  under 
conviction;  prejudice  subsided,  and  I  hope  he  is  now  in  glory. 


REV.    CHARLES   BUCK.  29 

similarly  tried,  fall  upon  this  page  of  Mr.  Buck's 
experience,  I  would,  in  order  to  relieve  him  from 
an  anxiety  which  once  preyed  upon  my  own  mind, 
suggest  a  train  of  enquiry  and  reflection,  which, 
under  a  divine  blessing,  effectually  vanquished  all 
my  terrors. 

The  alarm  which  I  felt  on  first  reading  the  terri- 
ble denunciation  which  is  the  exclusive  penalty  of 
blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  arose  from  a 
union  of  ignorance  of  the  nature  of  this  sin  in  par- 
ticular, with  deep  conviction  of  the  evil  of  sin  in 
general.  In  this  state  of  feeling,  I  ruminated  on  the 
tremendous  qualities  of  this  offence,  "  which  never 
hath  forgiveness,"  and  remembering  that  I  had  often 
deliberately  transgressed,  in  spite  of  the  loud  remon- 
strances of  my  conscience,  and  in  violation  of  the 
most  solemn  and  frequently  repeated  resolutions; 
that  I  had  rejected  the  offers  of  salvation,  and  la- 
boured to  drown  the  anguish  of  my  spirit,  by  plung- 
ing into  the  follies  of  the  world,  I  concluded  that  I 
had  been  guilty  of  this  dreadful  and  unpardonable 
blasphemy;  but  connecting  fervent  prayer  with  a  se- 
rious view  of  the  whole  case,  as  related  by  the  Evan- 
gelist, taking  especially  into  consideration  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  the  denunciation  originated, 
and  the  character  of  the  persons  to  whom  it  was 
immediately  addressed,  I  was  at  length  persuaded 
that  it  was  a  crime  chargeable  only  upon  the  scribes 
and  pharisees,  who,  witnessing  the  mightv  miracles 
which  Jesus  wrought,  ascribed  them  to  Satanic  in- 
fluence; and  that  it  can  never  be  again  repeated  in 
the  same  degree  of  heinousness,  with  the  same  ag- 
C  2 


30  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 

gravations,  or  incurring  the  same  awful  and  hope- 
less sentence  of  condemnation.* 

Immediately  after  narrating  this  distressing  temp- 
tation, Mr.  Buck  proceeds  to  observe — 

"  Before  I  leave  this  part,  let  me  remark,  how 
various  are  the  means  which  the  Almighty  is  pleased 
to  use  to  illuminate  the  minds  and  impress  the  hearts 
of  his  people.  Some  are  called  under  severe  dispen- 
sations of  Providence,  by  sickness,  losses,  bereave- 
ments, disappointments,  changes  in  life;  others  by 
the  example  of  those  around  them;  some  by  reading 
the  Scriptures;  most  by  hearing  the  gospel  publicly 
preached;  but  if  ever  my  mind  was  seriously  and 
truly  impressed,  it  was,  as  I  have  before  said,  by 
conversation.  I  had,  it  is  true,  heard  the  gospel  be- 
fore, but  to  little  or  no  effect.  Let  me  then,  here, 

*  The  following  observations,  extracted  from  a  sermon  by  the 
Rev-  Joshua  Moreton,  on  this  subject,  are  illustrative  of  ths 
principle  which  1  have  assumed,  and  I  therefore  insert  them  in 
this  place. 

"  To  consider  this  possible,  (that  is,  the  perpetration  of  this 
crime,)  you  must  be  supposed  to  have  lived  on  earth  with  Jesus 
Christ;  you  must  have  had  an  opportunity  of  thoroughly  know- 
ing- his  character;  you  must  have  heard  his  mighty  words,  and 
seen  his  mightier  works;  and  after  all,  you  must  have  done  vio- 
lence to  the  full  conviction  of  your  minds:  you  must,  for  ends 
merely  selfish  and  political,  have  rejected  every  evidence  offer- 
ed to  confirm  the  mission  of  the  Son  of  God;  you  must  have  ma- 
liciously denied  the  evidence  of  your  senses;  and  whilst  the  sur* 
rounding  multitude  were  acknowledging  that  God  was  with  him, 
you  must  daringly  have  affirmed  that  he  cast  out  devils  through 
Beelzebub,  the  prince  of  the  devils.  These  circumstances  laid 
together,  will,  I  trust,  have  a  tendency  to  convince  you,  that  you 
are  not,  that  you  cannot  be,  subject  to  the  sentence  denounced 
in  my  text," 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  31 

most  ardently  press  it  upon  all  ministers  and  Chris- 
tians to  drop  a  word  in  season,  (I  mean  not  that  we 
should  cast  pearls  before  swine,  and  there  is  certain- 
ly a  prudence  to  be  observed  in  this;)  but  there  are 
sometimes  favourable  seasons,  opportunities,  circum- 
stances, occasions,  in  which  something  may  be  said 
to  promote  the  grand  object,  and  who  can  tell,  a 
word  may  lodge  a  conviction,  or  make  an  impres- 
sion never  to  be  forgotten." 

uLike  most  young  converts,  I  was  now  filled 
with  zeal,  and  thought  I  could  easily  convert  others. 
I  sent  letters  to  my  mother,  informing  her  of  the 
change,  and  most  solemnly  intreating  her  to  consi- 
der her  own  state.  I  hope  and  believe  that  these  ef- 
forts were  not  altogether  fruitless.  My  mother,  al- 
ways friendly  to  morality,  was  pleased  to  hear  how 
I  was  disposed;  for  she  had  been  greatly  tried  by  my 
two  elder  brothers,  who  both  violated  their  inden- 
tures, and  became  profligate.  She  was  in  a  state  of 
severe  affliction  at  this  time;  but  my  letters,  it  seems, 
afforded  her  great  consolation.  The  neighbours  who 
knew  me  when  I  was  a  child  came  to  hear  them 
read:  at  last  came  the  curate  of  the  parish  to  inspect 
lem;  but  he,  I  fear,  not  knowing  much,  said  "they 
'ere  all  very  well,  but  rather  methodistical."  Such 
was  my  zeal,  that  I  not  only  wished  to  convert  my 
mother,  but  I  drew  up  an  address  to  the  whole  vil- 
lage, calling  upon  them  to  repent,  and  turn  to  God; 
but,  alas! "  Old  Adam  was  too  hard  for  young  Me- 
lancthon." 

About  this  time,  when  Mr.  Buck  was  little  more 
than  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  attempted  to  address  a 


S2  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

few  pious  friends,  thus  discovering  that  propension 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  without  which  there 
certainly  cannot  be  a  scriptural  call  to  engage  in  it. 
In  his  juvenile  exhortations  he  began  by  using  notes, 
which  he  had  carefully  prepared,  but  soon  after 
finding  great  liberty  in  speaking,  he  altogether  laid 
them  aside.  In  his  first  effort  he  felt  himself  abashed 
and  discouraged;  but  the  persuasions  of  his  friends, 
and  his  own  determined  zeal,  induced  him  to  perse- 
vere, till  every  difficulty  was  surmounted. 

At  the  period  when  Mr.  Buck  entered  upon  his 
religious  course,  this  method  of  introducing  inex- 
perienced youths  into  the  pulpit  was  by  no  means 
uncommon.  A  young  man  no  sooner  became  a 
Christian,  or  entered  upon  a  Christian  profession, 
than  he  was  deemed  qualified  to  teach,  by  the  com- 
panions of  his  own  age,  and  a  few  elderly  gossips, 
honoured  by  the  appellation  of  "  mothers  in  Israel." 
However  slender  his  gifts,  or  deficient  his  knowledge, 
if  he  could  only  open  his  mouth,  and  ring  changes 
on  a  set  of  cant  phrases,  and  a  few  theological  dog- 
mas, which  he  could  neither  correctly  state,  prove, 
nor  defend,  he  was  hailed  by  the  title  of  "  Rever- 
end," sprucely  attired  in  a  suit  of  "  inky,"  some- 
times of  rusty  black,  and  exhibited  to  admiring  mul- 
titudes as  a  modern  wonder.  The  baneful  influence 
of  all  this  on  the  character  of  the  individual  may  be 
easily  imagined.  He  that  might  have  been,  in  a  retir- 
ed sphere  of  life,  a  humble  and  useful  member  of 
the  church  and  of  society,  or,  under  proper  treat- 
ment, a  good  minister  of  Christ,  thrust  forward  by 
an  overweening  idea  of  his  own  qualifications,  and 


% 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  33 

the  injudicious  zeal  of  his  friends,  is  converted  into 
a  pragmatical  or  solemn  coxcomb,  fit  neither  for 
heaven  nor  earth.  Invested  with  the  character  of  a 
public  instructor,  when  he  ought  to  be  sitting  at  the 
feet  of  some  christian  Gamaliel,  he  imagines  himself 
to  belong  to  a  superior  order  of  intellect,  or  to  be 
favoured  with  an  extraordinary  measure  of  divine 
assistance.  The  admiration  of  the  ignorant  he  views 
as  the  test  of  excellence,  and  is  soon  flattered  into  a 
persuasion  that  he  possesses  a  mind  that  requires 
not  the  culture  of  study,  and  a  heart  that  is  too  spi- 
ritual to  need  the  vigilant  drudgery  of  self-examina- 
tion. Many  a  novice  of  this  description  has  fallen 
into  the  condemnation  of  the  devil;  and  many  a  youth 
who  might  have  been  an  able  minister  of  the  New 
Testament,  if  he  had  submitted  to  a  regular  course 
of  discipline  and  education,  has  been  rendered  ridi- 
culous and  useless  by  the  folly  that  made  him  a 
preacher,  before  God  had  made  him  a  man. 

The  experience  of  half  a  century  has  at  length 
brought  this  method  of  filling  our  pulpits  into  merit- 
ed disrepute.  The  general  effect  has  been  so  injuri- 
ous to  the  cause  of  religion,  that  almost  every  party 

now  establishing  its  seminaries  for  the  education 
a  rising  ministrv,  thus  guarding  its  churches 
against  indiscriminate  admission  into  the  sacred  of- 
fice. It  is  now  an  axiom  among  us  all,  "that those 
who  will  not  learn,  shall  not  teach."  The  cant  about 
receiving  ministers  immediately  from  the  Lord,  be- 
cause they  are  taken  from  the  plough-tail  and  the 
shop-board  to  preside  in  our  religious  assemblies, 
produces  nausea  in  every  stomach,  except  that  of 


34  MEMOIR'S   OF   THE 

the  Antinomian  monster,  whose  gastric  power  can 
digest  "  all  noxious,  all  prodigious  things,"  The 
conviction  is  now  universal,  that  the  teachers  of 
christian  theology  should  understand  the  various 
duties  of  their  profession,  and  be  eminently  imbued 
with  scriptural  knowledge;  that  a  minister  must  not 
only  be  a  Christian,  but  a  divine,  and  that  a  tho- 
rough acquaintance  with  divinity  can  only  be  attain- 
ed by  a  long  and  persevering  course  of  laborious 
study.  In  making  these  observations,  the  writer 
would  not  be  understood  to  insinuate  that  useful, 
and  even  eminent  ministers,  have  not  arisen  out  of 
the  very  system  which  he  has  felt  it  to  be  his  duty 
to  reprobate.  These,  however,  are  comparatively 
very  few,  and  are  to  be  considered  as  extraordinary 
instances  of  superior  intellect  and  piety;  they  arose 
to  distinction,  not  in  virtue  of  the  circumstances 
which  led  them  into  the  ministry,  but  in  spite  of 
them.  Hurried  into  an  office,  to  the  duties  of  which 
they  were  sincerely  devoted,  they  were  soon  con- 
vinced of  the  necessity  either  of  educating  them- 
selves under  every  possible  disadvantage,  or  of  tak- 
ing refuge  in  an  academy,  where  they  might,  with 
greater  facility,  obtain  the  qualifications,  the  want  of 
which  they  so  deeply  deplored.  Nor  are  the  early 
and  comparatively  private  efforts  of  individuals,  who 
are  inclined  to  the  ministry,  to  be  censured,  when 
they  are  made  before  competent  judges,  and  with  a 
view  to  academical  preparation.  If  the  mind  has  not 
a  strong  and  uncontrollable  bias  towards  preaching; 
if  there  be  not  a  natural  aptitude  to  teach,  and  an 
ardent  thirst  after  every  kind  of  knowledge,  which 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK,  3i> 

may,  by  possibility,  shed  lustre  on  the  office  to  which 
the  youthful  candidate  aspires,  he  will  never  be  very 
eminent  or  very  useful;  where  these  qualities  exist 
they  will  not  fail  to  manifest  themselves,  nor  will 
judicious  ministers  and  churches  discourage  their 
appearance — they  will  rather  kindly  cherish  them, 
and  wisely  direct  their  application. 

It  was  the  happiness  of  Mr.  Buck  to  rise  above 
the  disadvantages  of  his  first  introduction  into  the 
ministry;  the  temptations  and  the  dangers  which 
were  fatal  to  many  of  his  contemporaries  he  was 
enabled  to  escape.  He  possessed  a  natural  tact  of 
good  sense,  and  his  heart  was  right  with  God.  His 
early  preaching,  therefore,  only  prepared  him  to  re- 
ceive with  greater  avidity  the  instructions  of  a  col- 
lege, and  was  the  means  of  fitting  him  for  his  public 
work  at  a  period  when  others  usually  commence 
their  studies.  A  circumstance  which  demands  our 
grateful  acknowledgment  to  the  mercy  of  his  Sa- 
viour; his  ministerial  course  was  not  short,  although 
he  died  in  the  vigour  of  his  age. 

Of  the  character  of  his  first  performances  he  thus 
speaks:  "My  knowledge  was  very  scanty,  my  ideas 
of  scripture  not  correct,  nor  had  I  any  proper  notion 
of  sermonizing.  I  have  the  plans  or  notes  still  by 
me,  and  cannot  but  sometimes  smile  in  reviewing 
them.  I  preserve  them  by  way  of  humiliation, 
though  indeed  my  intention  was  good,  and  my  heart 
full  of  zeal.  I  confess  I  look  back  with  pleasure  on 
these  meetings,  for  however  defective  we  were  in 
knowledge,  they  were  meetings  of  devotion,  and  in 
some  degree  laid  the  foundation  of  the   habit  of 


36  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

public  speaking;  and  though  I  do  not  approve  of  raw 
youths  mounting  the  rostrum,  yet  I  think  it  is  better 
for  them  to  meet  for  conversation,  prayer,  and  ex- 
hortation, than  to  stand  alone;  at  least  I  can  say  that 
I  found  the  advantage." 

Mr.  Buck's  first  extempore  sermon  was  delivered 
in  an  apartment  in  Bedford-house,  Bloom sbury- 
square,  in  the  year  1787,  to  which  service  he  was 
invited  by  a  young  man  who  then  lived  in  that  no- 
ble mansion.  On  a  review  of  this  part  of  his  history 
he  exclaims,  u  How  numerous  are  the  changes 
here!  This  superb  edifice  is  entirely  pulled  down, 
and  the  mortal  remains  of  this  young  man  are  at  the 
bottom  of  the  sea.  I  never  walk  across  the  square 
above  mentioned  without  reflecting  on  former  times* 
— This  youth  and  myself,  on  a  summer's  morning, 
used  to  meet  in  the  fields  at  five  or  six  o'clock, 
where  we  exhorted  and  endeavoured  to  instruct 
each  other;  though  it  was  some  distance  for  me  to 
go,  yet  the  pleasure  I  felt  made  me  forget  every 
inconvenience.  How  true  is  it,  that  when  one  object 
principally  attracts  and  interests  the  soul,  that  any 
sacrifice  can  be  made,  any  difficulty  borne  to  ac- 
complish the  end  We  desire.  How  often  have  I  said, 
Give  me  but  the  zeal  of  my  first  days,  and  what  is 
there  that  I  cannot  do?  That  passage  in  the  second 
chapter  of  Jeremiah,  the  second  verse,  has  often  af- 
fected me:  "  Go  and  cry  in  the  ears  of  Jerusalem, 
saying,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  I  remember  thee,  the 
kindness  of  thy  youth,  the  love  of  thine  espousals, 
when  thou  wentest  after  me  in  the  wilderness,  in  a 
land  that  was  not  sown." 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  57 

"  At  this  time,  1789,  I  attended  the  ministry  of 
Mr.  Romaine*  and  Mr.  Foster  at  Blackfriars 
Church,  occasionally  hearing  at  other  places.  I  knew 
little  or  nothing  respecting  the  grounds  of  difference 
between  Churchmen  and  dissenters,  nor  did  I  in  the 
least  inquire  or  trouble  myself  about  them.  I  called 
myself  a  churchman.  Mr.  Romaine  gave  out,  that 
shortly  a  confirmation  would  take  place  at  St. 
Bride's  Church,  and  that  candidates  for  confirma- 
tion in  his  congregation  were  desired  to  meet  him 
in  his  vestry.  I  began  to  rub  up  my  memory  afresh 
with  the  church  catechism,  which  I  had  learnt  in 
earlier  years,  expecting  to  be  closely  examined  as  to 
my  knowledge  in  this  particular.  On  the  day  ap- 
pointed I  went  to  the  vestry,  but  instead  of  going 
through  the  catechism,  he  talked  to  us  very  suitably 
and  spiritually,  and  then  went  to  prayer  with  us, 
commending  us  all  to  the  blessing  of  God,  He  gave 
tickets  to  each  of  the  candidates,  and  I  thought  mv- 
self  greatly  honoured,  mine  being  No.  1.  The  day 
fixed  for  confirmation  arrived;  we  waited  upon  Mr. 
Romaine  in  the  vestry,   and  from  thence  proceeded 

*  There  was  in  Mr.  Romaine's  preaching-  a  peculiar  suavity, 
if  I  may  so  call  it,  that  I  never  met  with  in  any  other-  His  sub- 
ject was  always  one,  and  yet  it  appeared  always  new.  I  was  in 
the  habit  of  taking  notes;  but  I  could  scarcely  ever  distinguish 
any  plan,  or  catch  any  original  or  striking  remark.  Though,  as 
I  have  said,  the  subject  was  always  the  same,  yet  there  was  a 
remarkable  unction  attending  it.  Every  individual  in  an  im- 
mense congregation  seemed  affected.  His  discourses  were 
short;  and  after  raising  the  feelings  of  his  auditors  to  the  high- 
est pitch,  there  he  left  them;  so  that  they  generally  went  away, 
saying,  "  This  of  all  Mr.  Romaine' s  sermons  was  the  best.'* 

D 


38  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

to  St.  Bride's,  he  walking  first  in  his  robes,  and  we 
following  behind,  where  we,  with  vast  numbers  of 
others,  were  confirmed  by  the  then  bishop  of  Ban- 
gor. I  say  nothing  now  about  the  benefits  of  this 
episcopal  act,  but  I  well  remember  that  it  was  a 
most  cheerful  and  pleasant  scene.  The  season  of 
the  year,  the  blooming  countenances  of  the  young, 
the  largeness  of  the  auditory,  the  ringing  of  the 
bells,  the  parents  looking  with  affection  on  their 
children  as  they  approached  .the  altar  to  receive  the 
hand  of  the  venerable  looking  bishop;  these,  and 
many  other  circumstances,  inspired  me  with  de- 
light." 

"  Being  now  confirmed,  I  thought  my  next  duty 
was  to  partake  of  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. I  therefore  approached  the  table  at  Blackfriars 
Church;  but  hardly  did  ever  any  poor  delinquent 
tremble  more  on  meeting  his  punishment,  than  I  did 
in  walking  up  to  the  altar.  It  appeared  to  me  of 
such  importance,  and  of  so  holy  a  nature,  that  I 
seemed  confounded  with  a  sense  of  my  unworthi- 
ness.  Like  many  other  young  Christians,  I  had  a 
wrong  idea  of  it;  and  to  me  it  was  more  a  service 
of  terror  and  bondage,  than  of  joy  and  gratitude.  I 
fear  this  is  the  case  with  '  many.  They  look  upon 
this  ordinance  as  somewhat  different  and  superior 
to  all  other  divine  institutions;  that  there  must  be 
some  great  qualification;  that  if  they  should  sin  af- 
ter it  they  are  undone;  that  they  must  be  divested 
for  the  season  of  the  remains  of  depraved  nature, 
and  thus  many  are  kept  back;  whereas  we  should 
remember,  that  it  is  the  broken  and  contrite  heart 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  39 

that  God  will  not  despise,  and  that  this  is  an  ordi- 
nance of  joy,  and  not  of  grief;  of  love,  and  not  of 
confusion;  of  peace,  and  not  of  anxiety;  of  gratitude 
and  triumph,  and  not  of  sullenness  and  melancho- 
ly." 

"  In  July,  this  year/I  went  one  evening  to  hear 
Mr.  Abdy  preach  at  Bow  Church.  During  his  ser- 
mon I  found  my  mind  rather  suddenly,  but  very 
strongly  impressed  with  the  thought  of  entering  into 
the  ministry.  I  am  no  advocate  for  sudden  impuls- 
es; but  so  it  was,  that  this  impression  remained, 
and  I  mentioned  it  to  my  friend  and  companion, 
who  gave  me  every  encouragement,  and  promised 
to  do  all  that  he  could  in  due  time  to  further  the  ob- 
ject. He  also  lent  me  a  book,  entitled  "  Eades's 
Gospel  Ministry,"  from  which  I  trust  I  derived 
profit.  About  this  time  the  life  of  Mr.  Whitfield 
fell  into  my  hands;  this  fired  me  beyond  measure, 
and  strengthened  my  desires  for  the  ministry  ex- 
ceedingly. A  sense  of  its  importance  and  difficul- 
ties at  times  rather  appalled  me,  but  encouraged 
by  some  serious  friends,  I  still  kept  the  object  in 
view." 

u  My  heart  was  now  set  on  doing  good  in  every 
ay  I  possibly  could.  With  a  friend  I  visited  New- 
gate, to  see  a  young  man  under  sentence  of  death 
for  house-breaking.  He  appeared  on  the  whole  pe- 
nitent and  attentive;  but  I  was  shocked  to  observe 
others  in  the  same  situation,  in  the  condemned  yard, 
apparently  careless,  playing  at  fives,  as  if  nothing 
was  the  matter.  The  young  man  we  visited  was  af- 
terwards executed  with  several  others.    He  came 


40  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

upon  the  scaffold  first,  and,  looking  up  towards  hea- 
ven, began  singing  and  seemed  to  die  penitent.  As 
these  cases  are  sometimes  doubtful,  I  must  leave 
the  decision  to  the  Great  Judge  of  all  the  earth." 

"  My  desire  for  entering  the  ministry  continu- 
ing, I  was  very  anxious  to  cultivate  my  mind.  My 
young  friend  was  now  removed  to  a  distant  acade- 
my to  prepare  him  for  that  great  work.  I  was  con- 
nected with  no  society  where  I  could  exercise  my 
gift,  I  therefore  licensed  a  room  in  Black-horse 
Court,  Fleet  Street,  and  opened  it  on  the  21st  of 
January  1788,  with  an  exhortation  from  2  Chron. 
xv.  7.  "  Your  work  shall  be  rewarded."  Our  num- 
bers increased,  and  I  was  assisted  by  several  other 
speakers,  having  exhortations  twice  a-week.  This 
Society  lasted  about  ten  years.  Many  ministers  oc- 
casionally assisted,  and  I  have  great  reason  to  be- 
lieve good  was  done." 

"  About  this  time  I  was  introduced  to  the  late 
Rev.  John  Ryland.  His  eccentric  manner,  his  ve- 
nerable appearance,  his  vehement  language,  so  over- 
whelmed me,  that  I  was  scarcely  able  to  give  any 
account  of  myself.  By  degrees,  however,  we  be- 
came familiar,  and  as  he  resided  near  my  place  of 
abode  for  a  short  season,  I  attended  him  at  six 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  became  his  amanuensis. 
He  was  a  man  of  genius,  of  a  most  vivid  imagina- 
tion, a  determined  enemy  to  the  doctrines  of  Soci- 
nus,  and  possessed  a  fund  of  anecdote  and  informa- 
tion which  rendered  his  company  very  entertaining* 
Had  he  applied  himself  to  any  one  subject  he  would 
have-  been  a  proficient;  but  he  wanted  to  grasp  ever 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  41 

a-y  thing — his  life  of  Hervey  is  a  curious  specimen 
of  this.  He  was  also  perhaps  too  sanguine  in  his 
plans  of  teaching  a  shorter  way  to  science;  perhaps 
he  thought  he  had  discovered  the  royal  road  so 
much  desired  by  some  of  the  kings  of  antiquity. 
There  are  many  anecdotes  told  of  him  which  I  be- 
lieve are  not  altogether  correct.  The  advice  he  gave 
me,  I  suppose,  was  the  same  he  gave  to  many 
others; — u  1.  Don't  buy  too  many  books,  for  that 
will  hurt  your  pocket. — 2.  Don't  sit  up  late  at  night 
to  study,  for  that  will  hurt  your  constitution. — 3. 
Don't  go  a  courting,  for  that  will  hurt  your  mind." 

u  It  may  be  difficult  to  lay  down  precise  rules  for 
others,  but  when  I  became  serious,  I  was  determin- 
ed on  two  things — to  be  much  in  secret  prayer,  and 
to  read  a  certain  portion  of  the  Scriptures  every 
day,  taking  them  regularly  from  the  beginning. 
About  Midsummer  this  year  I  finished  reading 
them  through  for  the  first  time.  In  private  prayer 
I  fear  I  sometimes  placed  more  dependance  on  the 
length,  than  the  propriety  of  it,  being  sometimes 
three  quarters  of  an  hour  upon  my  knees.  How- 
ever, let  me  recommend  to  all  to  adopt  the  same 
resolution,  of  constantly  reading  the  scriptures,  and 
earnestly  imploring  the  divine  blessing.  Such  are 
most  likely  to  prosper  in  their  own  souls,  and  to 
become  the  instruments  of  usefulness  to  others." 

"  Hitherto  T  had  engaged  only  in  giving  •  xhor- 
tations  in  private,  except  at  the  roo=n  at  Bluck- 
horse  Court;    but  a    supply  being    wanted   by  the 

D2 


42  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

Rev.  Mr.  Jackson,*  at  his  place  at  Wapping,  I  was 
prevailed  upon  to  engage  for  the  morning  and  after- 
noon. This  was  the  first  pulpit  in  which  I  ever  ap- 
peared as  a  preacher.  I  was  now  little  more  than 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  though  full  of  zeal,  per- 
haps not  altogether  qualified  to  appear  in  public.  I 
met,  however,  with  encouragement,  and  was  shortly 
invited  to  preach  at  the  chapel  at  Wandsworth  on 
a  Sabbath  afternoon;  this  I  accepted,  and  found 
great  liberty  in  preaching.  This  was  my  second  at- 
tempt, which  giving  satisfaction,  divested  me  of 
fear,  and  excited  me  to  go  forward." 

u  In  the  summer  of  this  year,  1789,  I  first  saw 
Bunhill  Fields:  I  cannot  describe  the  impression 
made  upon  my  mind  on  entering  the  gate,  and  ob- 
serving the  almost  innumerable  monuments  of  the 
dead;  indeed,  I  was  so  struck,  that  I  went  home, 
sat  down,  and  composed  a  paper,  entitled  "  Thoughts 
in  Bunhill  Fields,"  which  was  printed  in  Mr.  De 
Coetlogon's  Miscellany.  A  walk  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  among  the  illustrious  dead,  is  solemn,  but  a 
walk  in  Bunhill  Fields,  among  the  pious  dead,  tends 
to  awaken  feelings  of  a  delightful  nature.  Here  are 
deposited  the  remains  of  an  Owen,  a  Goodwin,  a 
Mather,  a  Williams,  a  Watts,  a  Lardner,  a  Bun- 
yan,  a  Harris,  a  Bragg,  a  Doolittle,  a  Jenkyn,  a 
Grosvenor,  cum  multis  aliis.  Perhaps  there  is  not  a 
spot  in  Europe  like  this.  The  superintendant  of  the 
ground  told  me,  that  a  gentleman  came  in  one  day, 

*  Mr.  Jackson  was  afterwards  settled  at  Warminster.  He 
was  a  man  of  good  sense,  and  an  excellent  preacher. 


ill 

s 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  43 

and  said  that  he  had  been  in  almost  all  parts  of  the 
world,  but  he  never  saw  a  burying  place  like  this." 
"  To  return.  Having  now  fully  made  up  my 
mind  to  enter  into  the  ministry,  I  began  to  think  in 
what  way  it  could  be  best  accomplished.  I  had 
some  thoughts  of  entering  into  the  connexion  of 
Lady  Huntingdon;  but  meeting  with  an  acquaint- 
ance of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wills,  and  communicating 
my  intention,  he  persuaded  me  rather  to  wait  upon 
him.  I  accordingly  did  so;  I  was  kindly  received, 
and  greatly  encouraged.  Wishing  to  have  some  spe- 
cimen of  my  abilities,  he  appointed  me  to  speak  be- 
fore him  and  some  friends,  which  I  did  at  Silver 
Street  Chapel.  Somehow  or  other  I  became  a  great 
favourite,  and  the  affection  this  useful  minister  of 
Christ  manifested  to  me  was  beyond  any  thing  I 
ever  before  experienced:  he  treated  me  as  a  son;  I 
was  welcome  to  his  table  whenever  I  chose;  I  had 
free  access  to  his  library,  and  the  benefit  of  his  ad- 
ice  as  to  the  books  I  should  read:  his  amiable  and 
ous  consort  treated  me  with  the  same  kindness,  so 
that  I  became  like  one  of  the  family." 

u  In  January,  1790,  Mr.  Wills  sent  me  to  preach 
at  the  late  Dr.  Peckvvell's  Chapel,  Westminster.* 
his  seemed  rather  formidable  to  me,  but  I  was 
enabled  to  go  through  with  some  degree  of  pleasure. 
I  afterwards  preached  at  Highgate  by  his  recom- 
mendation, and  finally  became  his  assistant  at  Silver 


*  Ministers  sometimes  smile  at  the  awkward  phraseology  of 
the  notes  put  up  to  the  pulpit  The  following  I  received  when 
about  to  preach  at  the  above  .mentioned  place:  "  A  husband  begs 
to  return  Almighty  God  th.mks  to.- the  happy  deliverance  of  his 
wife  out  of  this  troublesome  life." 


44  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 

Street  Chapel.  At  this  place  I  commenced  a  lecture 
at  seven  o'clock  on  Sabbath  day  mornings,  which  I 
continued  for  several  years.  Here  I  enjoyed  many 
pleasant  opportunities,  and  I  think  that  good  was 
done." 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  Mr.  Buck  accompanied 
his  friend  and  patron,  Mr.  Wills,*  on  a  preaching- 
tour  through  Wallingiord,  Oxford,  Bath,  and  Bris- 
tol. Though  a  stripling,  he  was  called  to  address 
very  large  and  attentive  congregations.  During  this 
journey,  he  surprised  the  inhabitants  of  the  village 
in  which  he  was  born,  by  appearing  in  the  pulpit  of 
his  venerable  tutor.  "  The  time,"  says  he,  "  for  my 
preaching  being  arrived,  I  went  with  peculiar  sen- 
sations to  the  old  place.  It  was  crowded  to  excess; 
curiosity  brought  together  characters  of  all  sorts  for 
miles  round.  Some  who  hardly  ever  went  either  to 
church  or  meeting  came.  Many  reprobates  hovered 
about  the  place,  endeavouring,  if  possible,  to  hear 
something,  though  afraid  to  show  themselves  with- 
in the  walls.  I  preached  from  the  third  chapter  of 
the  epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  eighth  verse;  iC  Unto 
me  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints  is  this 
grace  given,  that  I  should  preach  among  the.  Gen- 
tiles the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ."  Never  had 
I  such  an  affecting  season  before;   it  was  almost  too 

*  Mr.  Wills  (says  Mr.  Buck)  was  a  popular  and  useful 
preacher.  His  figure  was  \enerable;  his  voice  sweet  and  sono- 
rous; his  subjects  always  evangelical;  his  language  p'ain  but 
forcible.  H-  wept  much  in  the  pulpit,  and  in  some  respects,  it 
is  said,  he  resembW  d  the  eelebiakd  M>-  Whitfield  "  The  edi- 
tor remembers  hearing  Mr.  Will,;  frequently  in  the  days  of  his 
childhood,  when  he  was  deeply  arid  powerfully  affected  by  the 
simplicity  and  pathos  of  his  discourses. 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK. 


much  for  my  feelings;  the  people  wept,  and  the  at- 
tention was  profound  and  universal.  What  interested 
me  much,  was  to  see  some  of  my  old  acquaintance 
and  play-fellows,  who  had  also  hcen  brought  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth  since  I  had  left.  From  what  I 
afterwards  heard,  the  word  made  a  great  impres- 
sion, and  I  trust  good  was  done.  I  could  not  help 
smiling,  however,  at  the  remarks  of  some  of  the 
country  folks  who  had  not  been  in  the  habit  of  hear- 
ing the  gospel.  One  man  said,  "  0  zz/r,  how  wonder- 
ful it  is!  what  a  deel  of  laming  you  must  have  to  go 
oi>  zoy  for  an  hour,  without  book." 

"  Another  individual,  a  farmer,  who  lived  at  some 
distance,  and  scarcely  ever  attended  a  place  of  wor- 
ship, was  induced  for  once  to  go.  He  was  quite 
overcome,  and  so  deeply  affected,  that  he  said  to 
another  as  he  was  returning  home,  u  O,  if  I  could 
but  pracch  like  he,  I  would  go  and  zell  all  my  cows, 
and  go  praeching  all  about  the  country."  Whether 
his  impressions  were  abiding  I  know  not.  Of  an  old 
playmate,  however,  whom  I  saw  a  year  after  on  a 
bed  of  sickness,  I  received  a  very  pleasant  testi- 
mony of  the  power  of  what  he  heard  on  that 
memorable  evening." 

Of  the  entire  devotedness  of  Mr.  Buck  to  the 
work  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  the  deep  seri- 
ousness of  his  spirit,  the  journal  which  he  kept  dur- 
ing this  tour  furnishes  abundant  proof. 

u  .Monday,  26ih  April,  1790. — Arrived  at  Wat- 
lingford.  The  country  wears  a  pleasing  aspect;  the 
hedges  arc  clothed  in  green,  and  the  trees  are  beau- 
tified with  the  sweetest  blossoms.  O  what  delights 


4-6  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

are  there  in  nature,  how  engaging  to  the  attention, 
and  how  pleasant  to  the  eye.  But  what  ravishing 
pleasures  will  there  be  when  the  everlasting  spring 
of  glory  shall  dawn  upon  me,  when  the  cold  winters 
and  gloomy  clouds  will  be  lost,  yea,  lost  to  be  found 
no  more.  O  my  soul,  reflect  on  that  blissful  state; 
be  not  so  dejected  and  cast  down  as  if  there  were 
no  hope.  A  few  more  winds  and  storms,  and  all 
will  be  well.  Then  shall  I  have  done  with  all  trou- 
bles, afflictions,  pains,  and  sorrows.  When  Christ 
who  is  my  life  shall  appear,  then  shall  I  appear 
with  him  in  glory.  O  then,  my  soul,  be  patient 
while  thou  art  journeying  through  this  wilderness." 

"  In  the  evening  heard  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wills  ex- 
pound the  first  chaperof  1  John.  The  discourse  was 
well  suited  to  poor  distressed  believers — can  say  it 
was  profitable  to  my  own  soul.  The  people  seemed 
to  hear  with  attention,  while  tears  flowed  from  their 
eyes.  And  ah!  who  can  reflect  on  the  great  love  of 
Jesus,  without  being  affected.  O  thou  eternal  Je- 
hovah, let  me  be  melted  down  with  a  sense  of  it;  may 
it  be  my  favourite  subject;  it  will  be  the  eternal 
meditation  of  all  in  heaven,  and  why  not  of  all  here 
upon  earth.  May  it  be  so  impressed  on  my  mind, 
as  never  to  be  worn  off;  may  I  live,  die,  and  live 
again,  in  the  everlasting  enjoyment  of  it.  Amen,  says 
my  soul,  Amen." 

"  Tuesday,  April  27.— Heard  Mr.  Wills  preach 
from  Rev.  iii.  20.  at  Wallingford  Market-place. 
There  was  a  numerous  and  attentive  audience,  while 
the  Lord  seemed  to  manifest  his  presence.  O  that 
some  poor  sinner  may  be  plucked  as  a  brand  from 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  47 

the  burning.  In  the  evening  I  gave  an  exhortation  • 
from  Isaiah,  xliii.  2.  at  Mr.  Lovegrove's;  expe- 
rienced a  little  liberty  in  my  own  soul.  O  for  more 
precious  seasons.  How  little  do  I  taste  of  redeeming 
love,  or  feel  of  the  Almighty's  goodness.  Blessed 
and  adorable  Redeemer!  make  me  more  lively  and 
active-  in  thy  cause,  that  I  may  be  stedfast,  im- 
moveable, always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  forasmuch  as  I  know  my  labour  is  not  in 
vain  in  the  Lord.  Make  me  faithful  to  warn  the 
sinner  of  his  way,  lest  his  blood  should  be  required 
at  my  hand:  O  that  I  may  be  instant  in  season,  and 
out  of  season  ever  more  diligent  to  exhort  poor 
souls  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come." 

"Wednesday,  April  28.  — Rode  on  horseback 
from  Wallingford  to  Oxford,  and  on  the  way  had 
some  profitable  conversation  with  a  Christian  friend. 
How  sweet  is  it,  when  God's  people  are  led  to  talk 
of  divine  things.  O  my  soul,  evermore  improve  such 
opportunities,  covet  the  instructive  conversation  of 
real  believers.  Let  not  thy  time  be  lost  in  talking  of 
vain  unbecoming  subjects.  Beware,  O  ever  beware 

Kidle  and  trifling  words,  and  learn,  in  conversing 
ith  others,  to  converse  more  with  Christ." 
"  Took  a  survey  of  some  of  the  buildings  in  the 
city;  but  ah,  what  are  these  to  the  house  not  made 
with  hands  eternal  in  the  heavens,  an  inheritance 
incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away. 
In  the  evening  heard  Mr.  W.  preach  from  1  Cor. 
i.  23,  24.  The  discourse  was  a  faithful  and  a  well 
suited  one:  I  pray  God  to  make  it  exceedingly  use- 
ful. O  what  a  privilege  to  have  and  to  hear  ministers 


48  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

that  keep  a  single  eye  to  God's  glory.  Blessed  Jesus! 
send  more  such  if  it  be  thy  will." 

"  Thursday,  April  29 — Went  from  Oxford  to 
Bath;  was  much  fatigued  with  the  length  of  the 
journey.  But  ah,  how  often  am  I  weary  in  travelling 
through  this  great  wilderness;  how  do  I  lag  behind; 
how  slowly  do  I  proceed;  how  little  activity*  how 
careless  to  run  the  race  that  is  set  before  me.  O  thou 
adorable  Jesus,  put  fresh  life  into  my  soul,  that  I 
may  mount  up  as  on  eagles'  wings,  that  I  may  run 
and  not  be  weary,  walk  and  not  be  faint.  Keep  me 
from  spiritual  sloth,  and  from  bringing  a  disgrace 
on  thy  cause.  O  that  I  may  adorn  the  doctrine  of 
God  my  Saviour  in  all  things:  but  O,  when  shall  I 
rest,  eternally  rest,  from  all  toil  and  labour,  and  ar- 
rive at  my  long  wished  for  haven?  When  shall  I  be 
where  my  Jesus  is,  to  love  and  praise  him  for  ever? 
where  sin  shall  no  more  disturb  my  peace  or  distress 
my  soul." 

"  Friday,  April  30. — Went  to  see  the  buildings  at 
Bath;  their  magnificence  and  grandeur  filled  me 
with  surprise:  but  what  beauty  is  there  in  that  spi- 
ritual building  the  Church!  How  strongly  supported, 
how  richly  adorned,  and  how  nicely  compact;  how 
well  stored  and  how  well  protected;  Jesus  himself 
the  watchman  that  walks  around  her  w7alls,  and 
guards  the  numerous  inhabitants.  O  my  soul,  art 
thou  a  lively  stone  in  this  superb  and  elegant  struc- 
ture? art  thou  safely  laid  on  and  cemented  to  the 
head  corner-stone,  yea,  the  sure  foundation.  O  that 
there  I  may  rest  in  life  and  death,  and  to  all  eter- 
nity, even  so,  Amen,  and  Amen. 


HEY.  CHARLES  BUCK.  49 

,        May  I  be  found  a  living  stone 
In  Salem's  streets  above, 
And  help  to  sing  before  the  throne 
Free  grace  and  dying  love. 

"Saturday,  May  1,  1790. — Arrived  at  Bristol; 
the  journey  was  short  and  pleasant.  Ah,  how  short 
is  my  stay  in  this  world!  How  time  glides  along! 
Lord  make  me  careful  to  improve  it:  but  though 
my  journey  is  but  short,  yet  if  I  am  blessed  with 
the  smiles  of  Christ,  it  is  pleasant.  O  give  me,  give 
me  thy  presence,  I  ask  no  more;  but  if  I  have  not 
that,  nothing  but  misery  will  attend  me. 

"  Sunday,  May  2. — Preached  at  the  Tabernacle 
this  morning  at  seven  o'clock,  from  1  Peter,  v.  10. 
"  But  the  God  of  all  grace,  who  hath  called  us  unto 
his  eternal  glory  by  Christ  Jesus,  after  that  ye 
have  suffered  awhile,  make  you  perfect,  establish, 
strengthen,  settle  you."  Did  not  feel  any  great  de- 
gree of  liberty;  but  O  how  thankful  ought  I  to  be 
that  God  permits  me  to  speak  at  all  in  his  name.  O 
that  1  may  be  more  earnest  in  exhorting  poor  souls 
to  look  to  Christ,  and  trust  in  him  alone! 

"  Heard  Rev.  Mr.  Wills  preach  at  Kingswood, 
from  Isaiah,  xxxii.  17.  "And  the  work  of  righte- 
usness  shall  be  peace,  and  the  effect  of  righteous- 
ess,  quietness  and  assurance  for  ever."  O  how  did 
the  poor  simple  souls  seem  to  drink  the  word;  with 
what  joy  did  they  hear  it,  while  the  tears  flowed 
from  their  weeping  eyes.  They  appeared  to  sit  un- 
der his  shadow  with  great  delight,  while  his  fruit 
was  sweet  to  their  taste. 

"  In  the  evening  heard  Mr.  Wills  at  Tabernacle, 
E 


<*0  MEMOIRS  OF  *HE 

from  Psalm  iv.  6,  7.  "  There  be  many  that  say,  whe 
will  shew  us  any  good?  Lord,  lift  thou  up  the 
light  of  thy  countenance  upon  us.  Thou  hast  put 
gladness  in  my  heart,  more  than  in  the  time  that 
their  corn  and  their  wine  increased."  It  was  a  large 
congregation,  and  all  seemed  very  attentive.  Lord 
bless  the  word  to  the  conversion  of  sinners,  and 
comforting  thy  saints.  Amen. 

u  Monday,  May  3. — In  the  evening  preached  at 
Tabernacle,  from  Isaiah,  xxxii.  18.  "  And  my  peo- 
ple shall  dwell  in  a  peaceable  habitation."  Was 
enabled  to  speak  with  a  little  freedom.  O  that  I 
may  be  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God,  of 
bringing  sinners  to  a  saving  knowledge  of  the  truth! 
May  I  be  always  careful  for  the  souls  of  others, 
while  at  the  same  time  I  may  not  be  negligent  of 
myself.  Grant  me  my  petition,  O  though  blessed 
Jesus  if  it  is  thy  will.  Amen  and  Amen. 

44  Tuesday,  May  4. — Went  to  Clifton;  had  some 
delightful  prospects  of  the  works  of  God  in  crea- 
tion. In  the  evening  heard  Mr.  Wills  at  the  Society 
at  Tabernacle;  the  season  was  very  precious  and 
comforting.  O  Lord,  let  me  profit  more  and  more 
in  hearing  thy  word:  suffer  me  not  to  be  a  dull  and 
lifeless  professor,  but  one  that  reduces  the  word 
into  practice.  Give  me  to  see  the  awfulness  of 
hearing  the  gospel,  and  yet  not  possessing  it.  O  that 
I  may  not  only  hear,  but  know,  and  not  only  know, 
but  be  careful  to  practice. 

"  Wednesday,  May  5. — Went  to  Redland;  had 
some  delightful  views  of  nature.  But  ah,  my  soul; 
thou  shalt  see  greater  things  than  these,  yea,  even 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  51 

Jesus,  thy  Saviour.  What  a  ravishing  sight  must 
that  be,  it  fills  me  with  joy  when  I  can  behold  him 
with  an  eye  of  faith;  but  what  will  it  be  when  I  see 
him  face  to  face.  In  the  evening  heard  Mr.  W.  at 
Tabernacle.  O  let  good  be  done,  dear  Lord,  and  all 
the  glory  shall  be  thine  for  ever  and  ever. 

"Thursday,  May  6. — Preached  at  Hope  Chapel, 
from  Hebrews,  xiii.  14.  "  For  here  we  have  no 
continuing  city,  but  we  seek  one  to  come."  Was  led 
to  show  the  nature  of  this  city,  and  the  manner  of 
seeki»g  it,  but  found  rather  a  darkness  on  my  mind. 
O  that  the  word  may  bear  a  lasting  impression, 
may  it  be  as  seed  sown  to  spring  up  after  many 
days.  O  that  it  may  be  watered  by  the  blessed  Spi- 
rit. 'Tis  thy  prerogative,  O  God,  to  make  it  effectual. 
Let  it,  dear  Lord,  not  be  a  lost  word,  may  it  not 
return  void,  but  be  useful  to  every  hearer.  Amen. 

"Friday,  May  7.— -Heard  Mr.  Wills  at  Taber- 
nacle, from  Rom.  i.  17.  M  For  therein  is  the  righte- 
ousness of  God  revealed  from  faith  to  faith,  as  it 
is  written,  The  just  shall  live  by  faith."  O  that  I 
could  but  hear  with  more  pleasure  and  attention: 
how  much  are  my  thoughts  wandering;  how  ready 
is  my  heart  to  start  aside  like  a  broken  bow;  how 
little  do  I  look  up  to  God  to  crown  the  word  with 
his  blessing.  O  that  I  may  never  slight  such  pri- 
vileges, and  abuse  such  opportunities  as  are  put  into 
my  hands!  How  little  am  I  thankful  to  God  for  his 
grace,  his  word,  his  ministers,  his  gospel,  his  or- 
dinances! Wretched  man  that  I  am,  to  be  so  un- 
grateful to  my  dear  Redeemer;  what  a  mercy  it  is 
that  I  am  not  cut  off  as  a  cumberer  of  the  ground; 


52  MEMOIRS  OF  1H£ 

for  I  am  too  much  like  Israel  of  old,  an  empty  vine, 
bringing  forth  fruit  to  myself!  How  long  hast  thou 
digged  about  me?  How  much  care  hast  thou  had 
respecting  me,  and  yet  O  how  unfruitful!  Lord,  be 
merciful  unto  me,  or  else  I  die,  yea,  for  ever  die. 

u  Saturday,  May  8. — Have  done  little  or  nothing 
for  God  to-day.  O  my  dear  Lord,  how  much  hast 
thou  done  for  me,  and  yet  how  backward  am  I  to 
do  any  thing  for  thee!  O  that  my  head  were  waters, 
and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  then  would  I 
weep  incessantly  for  my  barrenness.  Was  there  ever 
such  an  unfruitful  creature  as  I  am?  What  a  mercy 
it  is  that  I  am  not  now  in  endless  flames.  O  for  a  heart 
pregnant  with  gratitude  for  thy  loving  kindness  to- 
wards me  a  poor  sinner.  When,  when  shall  I  praise 
thee  as  I  ought?  Dearest  Redeemer,  stamp  gratitude 
for  ever  upon  my  heart. 

44  Sunday,  May  9. — Preached  at  Tabernacle,  from 
Ephesians,  iv.  15.  a  Grow  up  into  him  in  all  things.'* 
Experienced  no  great  liberty.  When  shall  I  have 
done  with  darkness  of  mind?  O  that  I  had  wings 
like  a  dove,  for  then  would  I  flee  away  and  be  at 
rest.  But  stop,  my  soul,  beware  of  impatience:  the 
Lord  will  in  his  own  good  time  take  thee  from  every 
trial  here  to  glory  above. 

44  Afterwards  preached  at  Kingswood;  a  large  as- 
sembly, and  all  seemed  to  hear  with  great  awe  and 
reverence.  The  text  was,  44  Unto  this  man  will  I 
look,  even  unto  him  that  is  poor  and  of  a  contrite 
spirit,  and  that  trembleth  at  my  word."  Isaiah,  lxvi. 
2.  Was  able  to  speak  with  a  little  freedom;  all  glory 
be  to  God.  O  that  good   may  be  done,  that  some 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  53 

sinner  may  be  converted,  and  some  saint  comforted. 
Even  so,  says  my  soul,  Amen. 

"  In  the  evening  heard  Mr.  Wills  at  Tabernacle, 
from  1  Cor.  iii.  three  last  verses.  The  power  of 
God  appeared  to  be  present;  the  congregation  seem- 
ed to  rejoice  at  the  word,  as  those  who  had  found 
great  spoils,  and  I  can  say  for  myself,  that  it  was  a 
precious  opportunity.  O  for  more  of  the  divine  pre- 
sence for  such  soul-enlivening  seasons.  Let  me  sit 
continually  under  thy  shadow  with  great  deligh% 
while  thy  fruit  is  sweet  to  my  taste.  May  I  delight 
more  in  thy  word,  and  run  the  way  of  thy  com- 
mandments. Amen. 

"  Monday,  May  10. — Preached  at  Tabernacle, 
from  Isaiah,  1.  10.  "  Who  is  among  you  that  feareth 
the  Lord,  that  obeyeth  the  voice  of  his  servant, 
that  walketh  in  darkness,  and  hath  no  light,,  let  him 
trust  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  stay  upon  his 
God."  A  numerous  audience,  while  all  seemed  at- 
tentive. Experienced  the  Lord's  presence,  and  found 
myself  in  a  comfortable  frame.  O  dearest  Jesus, 
how  sweet  is  it  to  enjoy  thy  smiles;  how  delightful 
to  be  blessed  with    the   light  of  thy  countenance! 

SWhat  a  mercy  that  ever  thou  shouldst  give  me  the 
least  glimpse  of  thy  love;  this  is  a  joy  which  the 
world  cannot  give  or  take  away:  but,  however,  let 
me  remember  not  to  idolize  my  comforts,  instead 
of  looking  out  of  them  simply  to  Jesus.  But  yet,  my 
soul,  still  covet  to  get  precious  seasons  and  soul-re- 
freshing opportunities.  O  what  can  be  compared  to 
them?  It  is  more  to  be  desired  than  ten  thousand 
worlds. 

.E2 


54?  MEMOIRS  OP  THE 

"Beneath  his  smiles  my  heart  haslivM, 
And  part  of  heaven  possess'd; 

I'll  praise  his  name  for  grace  receiv'd, 
And  trust  him  for  the  rest." 


"Tuesday,  May  11. — Heard  Rev.  Mr.  Jenkins 
at  Lady  Huntingdon's  Chapel:  many  of  his  remarks 
were  judicious,  and  others  exceptionable.  Text  was 
from  John,  xi.  14,  15.  My  soul,  adore  thy  Redeemer 
for  the  inestimable  privilege  of  hearing  his  gospel. 
Blessed,  indeed,  shall  I  be  if  I  experimentally  know 
that  joyful  sound.  O  let  me,  let  me  never  be  dead 
to  its  power;  may  I  have  a  saving  knowledge  of  it, 
to  the  joy,  satisfaction,  and  comfort  of  my  soul. 
Even  so,  Am  n. 

"  Wednesday,  May  12. — Found  myself  rather 
indisposed,  but  was  enabled,  through  mercy,  to 
preach  at  Pill  in  the  evening  from  these  words — 
44  Whereas  thou  hast  been  forsaken  and  hated,  so 
that  no  roan  went  through  thee,  yet  I  will  make 
thee  an  eternal  excellency,  a  joy  of  many  genera- 
tions." Isaiah,  lx.  15. — Have  reason  to  believe  the 
word  was  blessed  to  their  souls.  O  Lord,  this,  this 
is  my  desire  to  be  useful  to  other?.  Let  me  have 
that  honour  and  happiness,  if  it  be  thy  will,  and 
thou  shalt  have  all  the  glory. 

"  Thursday,  May  13. — Came  from  Pill  to  Bris- 
tol this  morning.  The  prospect  was  pleasing;  the 
fields  were  variegated  with  numerous  flowers,  of 
different  colours;  the  little  songsters  seemed  all 
alive;  melody  was  heard  from  all  around,  while  the 
genialsun,  the  life  of  all,  spread  abroad  his  enliven- 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  55 

ing  rays.  O  what  a  field  is  the  work  of  creation 
for  the  mind  to  rove  in:  who  could  behold  such  a 
piece  of  architecture,  and  not  be  in  raptures  with 
the  grand  Architect.  O  thou  omnipotent  Being,  let 
me  ever  be  devoted  to  thee.  Suffer  me  not  to  delight 
in  thy  works,  and  yet  be  unmindful  of  thy  great 
kindness  to  man.  O  what,  what  hast  thou  done  for 
him!  Why  shouldst  thou  remember  such  a  rebellious 
being?  O  amazing  mercy,  stupendous  love  indeed! 
Help  me,  men  and  angels,  to  adore  him:  O  how  can 
we  speak  enough  of  thy  goodness,  thou  auspicious 
Friend?  "  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  all  that 
is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name." 

"  Friday,  May  14. — Preached  at  Bath  from 
Psalm  lxi.  2.  "  Lead  me  to  the  rock  that  is  higher 
than  I."  Did  not  find  much  life  in  my  own  soul;  but, 
however,  God  can  make  that  which  we  often  think 
unprofitable,  really  useful.  Lord,  I  adore  thee,  that 
thou  hast  all  in  thy  own  hands,  and  that  thou  will  do 

just  as  it  seemeth  good    in  thy  sight. Supped 

with  a  Christian  lady,  whose  conversation  was  pro- 
fitable and  experimental.  Ah,  what  a  pity  it  is,  that 
those  who  are  children  of  God  do  not  talk  more 
about  their  heavenly  Father,  his  kindness,  love, 
mercy,  power,  grace,  compassion,  and  goodness. 
Oh,  what  topics  are  these,  they  are  worth  spending 
time  in  conversing  about.  But  O,  wretched  man  that 
I  am,  how  little  do  I  speak  of  Jesus,  how  backward 
to  make  him  the  subject-matter  of  my  conversation. 
O  heavenly  Spirit,  teach  my  heart,  and  instruct  my 
tongue  to  utter  thy  praises,  sing  of  thy  love,  and  talk 
•f  thy  grace. 


S6  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

"  Saturday,  May  15. — Came  from  Bath  to  Bristol. 
Could  not  help  thinking  that  time  is  the  vehicle  that 
conveys  us  through  this  world  to  eternity.  Ah,  how 
swift  it  flies,  but  how  little  improved;  how  little  of 
it  devoted  to  God,  and  how  little  spent  in  his  ser- 
vice. O  Lord,  enable  me  to  husband  well  my  mo- 
ments; they  are  precious,  though  fleeting.  So  teach 
me  to  number  my  days,  that  I  may  apply  my  heart 
unto  wisdom. 

"Sabbath,  May  16.-— Preached  at  Tabernacle, 
from  Matt,  xxiii.  9.  "  Call  no  man  father,  for  one  is 
your  Father  who  is  in  heaven."  Considered  the 
Lord  under  the  character  of  a  father  to  his  people; 
experienced  much  liberty,  all  glory  be  to  his  pre- 
cious name.  O  that  good  may  be  done.  How  I  long 
to  be  useful  in  bringing  sinners  to  Christ:  methinks 
if  I  had  a  thousand  worlds,  they  should  all  be  relin- 
quished, for  the  honour  of  being  made  instrumental 
in  the  cause  of  my  adorable  Master.  Afterwards 
preached  at  Pill  Chapel,  from  2  Cor.  iv.  17.  "  For 
our  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment,  work- 
eth  out  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory."  O  how  rich  is  this  passage  with 
divine  consolation,  how  replete  with  blessings,  how 
full  of  encouragement!  Art  thou  afflicted,  O  my 
soul?  Be  patient,  it  is  but  for  a  moment:  O  what  a 
golden  "  but"  is  that.  O  keep  me,  keep  me,  dearest 
Lord,  from  a  murmuring  and  a  discontented  spirit: 
my  distresses  may  be  pungent;  my  trials  may  be 
sharp;  but  O  let  me  remember  there  is  an  eternal 
weight  of  glory  for  me.  O  sweet  words;  not  only 
glory,  but  a  weight  of  glory,  and  not  only  so,  but  it 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  5/ 

is  an  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.  O  why, 
why  are  my  thoughts  employed  so  little  about  this 
soul-comforting  subject?  What,  is  there  a  heaven 
for  me,  and  shall  I  not  anticipate  it?  Blessed  Jesus, 
let  me  dwell  in  a  constant  expectation  of  being  taken 
to  the  full  enjoyment  of  it.   Amen. 

"  Mcnday,  May  17. — Preached  at  Tabernacle, 
from  2  Tim.  ii.  3.  u  Thou,  therefore,  endure  hard- 
ness, as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ."  Was  rather 
shut  up,  and  really  experienced  what  I  was  speaking 
of — the  hardship  of  a  Christian  soldier.  But,  how- 
ever, Jesus  my  Captain,  can  put  life  into  the  word, 
and  make  it  profitable  to  those  who  are  called  to 
fight  under  his  banner.  O  let  it  not  return  void,  but 
be  as  bread  cast  upon  the  waters,  to  be  found  after 
many  days. 

"Tuesday,  May  18. — Was  much  delighted  in 
reading  Mr.  Ryland's  sermon,  preached  at  Broad 
Mead,  August  28,  1780,  being  the  day  of  the  An- 
nual Meeting  of  the  Bristol  Education  Society; 
found  many  remarks  worthy  of  notice.  He  has  dis- 
covered himself  to  be  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  a 
capacious  understanding,  great  ingenuity,  and  a  good 
definer  of  terms. 

u  In  the  evening  attended  the  Society,  heard  se- 
veral give  in  their  experiences  that  were  old  veterans 
in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  some  that  were  young. 
Lord,  let  it  be  a  means  of  helping  me  forward. 

"  Wednesday,  May  19. — Went  to  Hillsley,  the 
village  where  I  was  born;  being  much  grown,  I  was 
hardly  known  by  any  one,  it  being  five  years  since  I 
left  $he  place;  could  not  help  admiring  the  creat 


MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

goodness  of  my  God  to  me  since  that  time,  in  call- 
ing me  from  a  state  of  darkness  and  ignorance  to  a 
knowledge  of  his  truth!  O  Lord,  why  didst  thou 
choose  me  and  leave  others?  O  how  shall  I  love  and 
adore  thee  enough!  Make  me,  O  make  me  ever 
grateful  to  thee.  "  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and 
all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name." 

"  Thursday,  May  20. — Preached  at  Wotton- 
Under-edge,  from  Job,  xxiii.  3.  "O  that  I  knew 
where  I  might  find  him:"  and  surely  it  was  the  lan- 
guage of  my  heart,  for  I  had  lost  his  presence,  and 
a  gloomy  darkness  was  spread  over  my  mind.  From 
this  let  me  learn,  that  God  will  suffer  his  ministers 
to  feel  what  they  are  preaching,  for  I  experienced 
the  same  uncomfortable  frame  of  mind  myself  which 
I  was  describing  to  others.  But,  Lord,  it  is  all  for 
the  best. 

"  Saturday,  May  22.— Came  from  Hillsley  to 
Bristol,  but  found  myself  ill  and  fatigued.  Let  this 
remind  me  what  a  poor  weak  creature  I  am;  that 
my  body  is  but  a  crazy  tabernacle,  continually  giv- 
ing warning  that  it  must  soon  fall.  But,  happy 
thought,  if  I  have  but  Jesus,  let  my  body  die,  my 
soul  shall  rest,  yea,  sweetly  rest  in  glory  where  he 
is.  There  I  shall  experience  no  pain  of  body  or  dis- 
tress of  mind,  but  shall  be  completely  happy  and 
blessed  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen. 

"Sunday,  May  23. — Preached  at  Tabernacle  this 
morning,  from  John,  xvi.  7.  "  If  I  go  not  away,  the 
Comforter  will  not  come  unto  you."  Found  myself 
yather  weak,  and  did  not  experience  much  liberty. 
In  the  afternoon  preached  at  Ashton,  from  Acts, 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK*  5$ 

xix.  2.  u  Have  ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost;"  though 
when  I  was  going,  I  was  in  such  a  condition  I  did 
not  know  whether  I  should  be  hardly  able  to  speak, 
yet  the  Lord  opened  my  mouth,  so  that  I  preached 
with  much  strength,  and  I  hope  and  trust  to  much 
profit. 

u  Monday,  May  24. — Preached  at  the  Taberna- 
cle this  morning,  from  Rom.  xv.  30.  "  Now  I  be- 
seech you,  brethren,  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ's 
sake,  and  for  the  love  of  the  Spirit,  that  ye  strive  to- 
gether with  me  in  your  prayers  to  God  for  me." 
The  Lord  seemed  to  bless  the  word.  Took  my  leave 
of  the  people,*  they  appeared  to  be  much  affected.  O 
for  the  time  when  we  shall  meet  to  part  no  more. 

"  Tuesday,  May  25. — Arrived  safe  in  London 
this  morning.  Great  God,  how  kind  hast  thou  been! 
Hitherto  hast  thou  helped  me.  But,  ah!  let  me  look 
back  on  this  little  excursion;  what  inactivity  has 
there  been;  I  have  done  nothing  for  my  God  as  I 
ought  to  have  done;  I  have  not  depended  on  him  as 
I  ought;  I  have  not  prayed  to  him  as  I  should  have 
done.  How  little  have  I  exerted  myself  for  thee,  O 
my  Saviour?  and,  ah,  how  much  ingratitude  is 
there  remaining  now  in  my  heart.  O,  make  me 
thankful;  let  the  language  of  my  heart  be  like  that 
of  thy  servant  of  old,  u  What  shall  I  render  unto 
the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  towards  me."  To  thee, 
O  God,  I  now  commit  myself;  be  my  Protector 
and  Guide,  and  never  leave  me  nor  forsake  me." 

The  following  devotional  papers,  written  about 
the  same  period  with  the  journal,  will  afford  much 
spiritual  improvement  to  the   pious  reader,  espe- 


60  MEMOIRS  OF  THE     l 

cially  to  the  youthful  Christian.  Mr.  Buck  was 
literally  a  boy  at  the  time  of  their  composure,  yet 
they  discover  considerable  maturity  in  the  divine 
life". 


CONTEMPLATIONS. 


Under  Darkness  of  Soul, 

Deprived  of  thy  smiles,  O  adorable  Redeemer, 
whither  can  I  go?  and  how  can  I  act?  The  best  of 
earthly  friends,  or  the  greatest  pleasures  of  this 
world,  can  yield  me  no  satisfaction  without  thee. 
Ah,  how  have  I  learnt  the  truth  of  that  sentence, 
"  Vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity,"  and  yet,  alas! 
what  proneness  there  is  still  to  cleave  to  those  things 
which  cannot  afford  me  the  least  help.  O  Lord, 
teach  me  by  thy  blessed  Spirit  to  look  only  to  thee, 
the  fountain  of  happiness  and  delight,  and  while  I 
thus  roam  about  in  darkness,  be  gracious  to  me. 
Speak  to  my  soul,  and  with  thy  almighty  power 
break  the  chain  that  now  confines  me  in  the  gloomy 
pit  of  distress.  One  word  from  thee,  dear  Saviour, 
shall  cause  light  to  dart  suddenly  into  my  mind,  and 
I  shall  rejoice  with  a  joy  unspeakable,  and  full  of 
glory.  I  wait  for  thy  return,  I  long  for  the  light  of 
thy  countenance;  thou  only  canst  cheer  my  heart, 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  61 

and  dispel  my  fears.  Whither  art  thou  gone,  then, 
O  my  beloved,  and  when  shall  I  again  hear  thy 
lovely  voice.  Ah,  Lord,  how  heavy  are  the  mo- 
ments, how  tedious  the  hours!  Every  thing  seems 
burdensome  while  thou  art  absent.  Come  then, 
Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly;!  am  faint  and  tired 
without  thee, — because  I  cannot  behold  thy  face; 
but  yet  teach  me  to  watch  against  impatience,  and 
to  remember  that,  "  though  heaviness  endure  for  a 
night,  joy  shall  come  in  the  morning." 


On  the  Heart, 
What  a  world  of  iniquity  is  here,  how  full  of 
abominations!  How  loathsome  and  corrupt!  Can  it 
be  that  ever  I  should  be  in  love  with  myself?  What, 
can  I  be  fond  of  that  which  is  so  depraved;  and  can 
I  trust  in  that  which  is  so  uncertain?  Amazing  stu- 
pidity, astonishing  ignorance!  Blessed  Spirit,  teach 
me  to  look  out  of  myself  entirely  and  continually. 
Is  it  not  expressly  declared,  that  the  heart  of  man  is 
deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked? 
Alas!  how  are  the  evil  weeds  of  pride,  covetousness, 
malice,  anger,  discontent,  sprung  up  in  it;  and,  ah, 
how  little  am  I  weaned  from,  and  how  much  do  I 
depend  upon  it.  I  do  not  weep  over  it  as  I  ought; 
I  am  too  little  watchful  against  its  arts  and  decep- 
tions. O  blessed  God,  come  and  take  full  possession 
of  it,  that  I  may  be  more  devoted  to  thee;  suppress 
its  rising  vanities,  and  let  all  deadness  and  inactivity 
be  taken  away,  that  I  may  mount  up  as  on  eagles' 

F 


62  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

wings.  But,  ah,  how  am  I  retarded  in  running  the 
heavenly  race,  by  the  heavy  weight  of  its  corrup- 
tion. How  it  obstructs  my  going  forward.  Alas!  it 
is  full  of  wanderings,  vain  thoughts,  and  ever  ready 
to  start  aside  like  a  broken  bow:  I  cannot  lift  it  up 
to  thee,  O  God,  as  I  could  wish.  When  I  would 
desire  to  serve  thee,  it  seems  intent  upon  other 
things.  But,  Lord,  is  it  not  in  thy  hand?  Make  it 
therefore  what  thou  pleasest,  and  let  me  be  more 
heavenly  minded;  keep  me  from  grovelling  here 
after  worthless  objects  and  trifling  toys,  which  can 
neither  profit  nor  comfort,  but,  on  the  contrary,  an- 
noy and  distress. 


Desiring'  God. 
Glorious  Majesty!  Eternal  God,  full  of  light  and 
immortality!  'Tis  thee,  and  thee  alone,  I  desire.  I 
covet  not  the  pleasures,  the  delusive  pleasures,  of 
this  vain  world,  I  want  nothing  less  than  thy  blessed 
self.  But  O  can  I,  who  am  but  dust,  presume  to 
think  that  God  will  condescend  to  dwell  with  me? 
What,  will  the  infinite  Jehovah,  the  omnipotent 
Being,  the  almighty  Lord,  look  upon  such  a  feeble 
worm?  Stupendous  love,  transporting  thought,  that 
even  the  High  and  Lofty  one,  that  inhabiteth  eter- 
nity, will  take  up  his  residence  in  the  contrite  heart! 
Come  then,  adorable  Majesty;  I  pant,  I  desire,  I 
long  for  thee;  thou  canst  satisfy  my  soul,  and  make 
glad  my  spirit;  when,  alas!  the  trifles  of  time  and 
sense  can  only  mar  my  comfort,  instead  of  increas- 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  63 

nig  it!  Shall  I  then  fly  to  any  other  resource  but 
thee?  Forbid  it,  gracious  Heaven,  and  with  thy  pre- 
venting mercy  suffer  me  not  to  wander  from  my 
God.  Lord  thou  art  witness,  yea,  my  own  con- 
science is  witness,  how  oft  I  have  strove  to  get 
from  thee,  but  yet  I  do  desire  thee,  I  desire  more 
to  live  to  thee  than  ever  I  have  yet  done;  for  whom 
have  I  in  heaven  but  thee,  or  on  the  earth  that  my 
soul  longs  after  but  thee?  Thou  art  the  strength  of 
my  heart,  and  my  portion  for  ever.  A  God  in 
Christ, — O  how  delightful  to  such  a  vile  sinner  as  I 
am.  How  sweet  to  be  reconciled  to  him  I  have  re- 
belled against,  and  to  know  that  he  is  u  my  God"  is 
better  than  ten  thousand  worlds.  Give  me  an  assur- 
ance of  this,  and  I  shall  be  happy,  yea,  unspeakably 
happy. 


GocVs  protecting  Care. 
Is  there  a  maternal  fondness  a^d  care  in  the  heart 
of  the  parent  towards  the  tender  infant?  O  what  is 
that,  when  compared  to  the  love  and  care  that  the 
Lord  has  toward  his  beloved  children?  With  what 
pity  he  looks  upon,  with  what  affection  he  beholds 
them.  Hence,  in  the  most  pathetic  language,  he 
says,  "  Ephraim,  my  dear  son,  a  pleasant  child, 
since  I  spake  against  him,  I  do  earnestly  remember 
him  still,  therefore  my  bowels  are  troubled  for  him, 
and  I  will  surely  have  mercy  upon  him,  saith  the 
Lord."  O  sweet  words,  how  animating  to  my  dis- 
consolate mind,  yea,  how  refreshing  to  my  distressed 


64-  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

and  weary  soul!  Merciful  Father,  this  is  thy  sweet 
voice;  O  what  loving  kindness  runs  through  the 
whole.  Can  I  despair  with  such  an  affectionate 
friend?  Can  I  sink  while  his  puissant  arm  is  under- 
neath me?  No,  it  cannot  be.  Let  me  therefore  in- 
dulge the  pleasing  thought,  that,  though  I  may  be 
tossed  about  on  the  tempestuous  ocean  of  this  world, 
yea,  though  gloomy  clouds  and  distressing  storms 
threaten  me,  yet  I  am  surrounded  by  thy  almighty 
power,  and  kept  by  thy  all-sufficient  grace.  But, 
ah,  cursed  unbelief,  how  oft  dost  thou  rob  me  of 
this  sweet  sensation,  and  deprive  me  of  my  choicest 
comforts?  Thou  art  a  barrier  to  my  joy.  Adorable 
Jesus!  keep,  O  keep  this  foul  fiend  from  me;  let 
me  not  be  led  away  by  its  vain  insinuations,  nor 
hearken  to  its  destructive  voice:  let  me  believe  in, 
and  depend  on,  thy  gracious  promises.  Thou  hast 
said,  "  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee." 
O  holy  Spirit,  apply  that  comfortable  word  to  my 
dejected  soul,  and  let  it  be  as  food  for  support,  a 
shield  for  defence,  a  refuge  in  time  of  trouble,  and 
consolation  in  the  hour  of  distress. 


Love  to  God. 
Can  I  forbear  being  attached  to  that  Friend  who 
has  done  every  thing  in  his  power  for  ray  peace 
and  happiness;  and  can  it  ever  be  that  I  should  not 
love  that  glorious  Being  to  whom  I  owe  my  exist- 
ence, life,  comfort,  and  my  all?  O  gracious  Saviour, 
I  am  constrained  to  love,  yea,  I  cannot  live  without 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  65 

loving  thee.  Ye  glorious  seraphs,  ye  blissful  saints 
above,  with  all  the  favourites  of  heaven  below,  bear 
witness  against  me  if  I  love  him  not.  Why  do  I 
mourn  after,  yea,  why  am  I  anxious  about  thee,  if 
I  have  no  delight  in  nor  love  for  thee?  Lord,  thou 
knowest  all  things,  thou  knoxvest  that  I  desire  thee 
above  every  object;  thou  art  the  solace  of  my  soul, 
and  the  wish  of  my  heart,  and  yet,  alas!  I  cannot 
love  thee  enough.  I  would  mourn  over  my  weak- 
ness, I  would  weep  on  account  of  my  inconstancy. 

0  heavenly  Father,  let  my  heart  burn  with  greater 
affection,  and  let  not  my  love  grow  languid  towards 
thee,  my  best  Friend,*  give  me  to  see  more  of  thy 
excellency,  and  to  be  more  enraptured  with  thy 
goodness*  let  the  afflictions  I  meet  with,  the  trials  I 
am  under,  and  the  troubles  I  bear,  all  tend  to  make 
me  dead  and  insensible  to  the  world,  and  more 
alive  to  thee.  I  would  love  thee  more,  but  my  cor- 
ruption chains  me  to  the  earth.  O  when  will  these 
fetters  be  broken,  and  my  soul  be  set  at  happy  liber- 
ty? When  shall  I  fly  away  to  eternal  bliss;  ah, 
when  shall  I  reach  yon  delectable  hills,  and  tread 
those  heavenly  plains?  There  will  I  adore  thee  with- 
out ceasing,  and  love  without  fainting.  But,  ah  me, 

1  have  still  to  stay  behind,  to  tread  the  rugged 
road,  and  meet  the  dreadful  storm:  But,  O  pre- 
cious Immanuel,  bless  me  with  patience  to  wait  thy 
sovereign  will,  and  to  be  resigned  to  thy  wise  pro- 
vidence. 


F2 


66  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

God^s  Providence* 
Lord,  I  adore  thy  vast  designs,  and  wonder  at 
thy  all-wise  providence:  thou  art  not  accountable  to 
creatures,  and  none  can  say  unto  thee,  "  What  doest 
thou?"  "  Thy  way  is  in  the  sea,  thy  path  in  the 
great  waters,  and  thy  footsteps  are  not  known." 
Shall  I  then  murmur,  when  I  consider  that  thou  art 
too  wise  to  err,  and  too  good  to  do  -wrong?  Heaven 
forbid.  Though  I  cannot  tell  what  thou  art  doing, 
and  am  ignorant  of  thy  divine  projects,  yet  let  me 
ever  be  submissive  to  thy  gracious  will.  Though  I 
cannot  comprehend  thy  works,  nor  understand  thy 
ways,  yet  let  me  be  resigned,  yea,  perfectly  resigned 
at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  to  thy  wise  disposal. 
But,  ah,  wretched  man  that  I  am,  how  frequently 
do  I  mistake  thee,  when  thou  art  full  of  love  and 
pity,  and  art  only  afflicting  me,  that  I  might  be 
more  refined  from  my  earthly  dross;  then,  to  my 
shame,  do  I  think,  that  in  wrath  thou  art  going  to 
leave  me,  or,  at  least,  I  am  not  one  of  thy  beloved 
children.  O  blessed  Jesus,  give  me  the  eye  of  faith, 
to  see  that  thou  wilt  do  all  things  well,  and  may  I, 
when  bereaved  of  friends,  or  deprived  of  f  omforts, 
be  enabled  with  patience  and  gratitude  to  take  up 
the  words  of  thy  servant  of  old,  "  The  Lord  gave, 
and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  but  still  blessed  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord."  If  thy  providences  are  ad- 
verse may  I  not  despair,  and  if  they  are  prosperous 
or  pleasant  may  I  not  be  careless  or  ungrateful. 
Into  thy  hands,  O  glorious  Immanuel,  I  surrender 
myself;  O  let  me  never  be  satisfied  with  any  thing 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  67 

short  of  thee,  and  may  I,  under  every  dispensation, 
say,  "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done." 


Go(Ps  Presence, 
O  precious  Saviour,  how  delightful  to  experience 
the  light  of  thy  countenance;  how  ravishing  is  thy 
sweet  presence!  'Tis  here  I  would  desire  to  dwell 
for  ever.  Had  I  the  tongues  of  ten  thousand  angels, 
or  even  of  all  the  celestial  choir,  I  could  not  express 
what  it  is!  I  can  only  taste  and  admire,  but  I  cannot 
explain!  How  oft  has  it  cheered  my  desponding 
soul,  when  I  have  been  ready  to  sink;  yea,  how  has 
it  supported  me  in  the  most  pungent  distress!  O 
heavenly  Sun,  let  me  feel  more  of  thy  genial  rays, 
and  fructifying  influences.  It  is  heaven,  indeed,  to 
dwell  under  thy  auspicious  smiles.  Let  the  world 
boast  of  their  joy,  and  talk  of  their  pleasure;  I  will 
triumph*in  thee  O  God,  while  I  am  in  extacy  with 
a  sight  of  thy  smiling  face,  and  am  transported  with 
the  wonders  of  thy  love!  Their  delight  is  vain,  de- 
lusive, and  transitory,  but  my  happiness  is  a  stream 
which  flows  from  an  inexhaustible  fountain.  Be- 
gone, then,  for  ever  gone,  ye  vain  charmers,  that 
would  allure  me  from  my  God.  In  him  I  have  all, 
in  you  I  have  nothing.—  Come,  then,  kind  Redeem- 
er, and  make  thine  abode  in  my  heart!  Divine  Pa- 
raclete, let  me  ever  sit  under  thy  shadow,  while  thy 
fruit  is  svvec.t  to  my  taste!  Thou  canst  make  my 
trials  soft,  my  troubles  light,  and  my  afflictions  pro- 
fitable, by  thy  blessing.  My  God  and  Saviour,  keep 


68  MEMOIRS   OF    THE 

me  near  to  thy  side,  and  humble  at  thy  feet.  Fulfil 
that  sweet  promise,  "  I  will  water  thee  every  mo- 
ment, lest  any  hurt  thee,  I  will  keep  thee  night  and 
day."  Blessed  Jesus!  I  adore  thee  for  that  refresh- 
ing word;  it  is  big  with  consolation,  and  replete 
with  blessings  to  all  thy  children.  May  I  be  one:  I 
ask  it.  Even  so,  Amen. 


Praising'  God, 
When  I  take  a  retrospect  of  thy  great  goodness 
manifested  towards  such  a  rebellious  child  as  I  am: 
it  causes  me  to  wonder  at  myself,  that  I  am  not 
more  thankful.  O  gratitude,  thou  sweet  companion, 
come  and  take  possession  of  my  heart;  for  how  can 
I  live  without  praising  thee,  dear  Saviour,  for  the 
innumerable  and  unmerited  blessings  I  receive  from 
thy  gracious  hands?  Thou  bountiful  Benefactor, 
that  openest  thine  hand,  and  satisfiest  the*  desire  of 
every  living  thing,  I  bless  thy  sacred  name,  that  ever 
I  should  taste  the  streams  of  redeeming  grace  and 
dying  love.  Ye  heavenly  cherubim  and  glorified 
saints,  that  now  surround  the  throne  above,  help  me 
to  praise  him  whom  my  soul  loveth,  and  whose 
kindness,  yea,  inconceivable  kindness,  demands  my 
highest  lays,  u  my  life,  my  all."  O,  for  the  happy 
period,  when  this  mortal  tabernacle  shall  drop  to 
the  dust,  then  shall  my  soul  rise  with  joy,  and  with 
rapidity  pass  through  unmeasurable  space,  till  it  ar- 
rives at  the  gate  of  celestial  bliss.  Then,  ah,  then, 
most  §weetly  shall  I  break  forth  in  rapturous  strains 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  69 

of  gratitude,  and  never,  no  never,  cease  praising  the 
adorable  Redeemer.  Bat  now,  even  now,  do  I  de- 
sire to  offer  up  my  imperfect  acknowledgments  of 
thy  undeserved  favours.  What  shall  I  render  unto 
thee  for  all  thy  benefits  bestowed  on  worthless  me. 
There  is  no  part  of  my  life  that  I  can  look  back  to, 
that  does  not  stand  as  full  proof  of  thy  mercies,  O 
God.  Let  me,  therefore,  with  heart  and  life,  give 
incessant  testimonies  of  gratitude,  and  may  I  ever 
join  with  the  holy  Psalmist  in  saying,  "  Bless  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his 
holy  name."  This  is  my  desire;  I  fain  would  sing  it 
forever  and  ever.  Amen. 


Spiritual  Declension. 
Alas,  my  soul,  how  strange  is  it,  that  one  day 
thoushouldst  be  mounting  up  as  on  the  wings  of  an 
eagle,  and  the  next  grovelling  in  the  dust;  one  mo- 
ment burning  with  celestial  ardour,  and  the  next 
cold  and  indifferent.  O  what  perpetual  changes  am 
I  subject  to,  while  in  this  vale  of  tears.  How  ready 
is  my  depraved  heart  to  deceive  me,  as  well  as  to 
decline  from  every  spiritual  duty.  Lord,  can  it  be 
that  thou  wilt  take  notice  of  such  a  rebellious  crea- 
ture? What,  wilt  thou  remember  one  who  so  often 
forgets  thee?  What,  wilt  thou  manifest  thy  benigni- 
ty to  a  poor  worm  that  is  so  vile?  Amazing  mercy! 
that  after  all  my  stupidity,  change  ableness,  indiffer- 
ence, hardness  of  heart,  and  vanity,  thou  shouldst 
look  upon  me  again:  pardon  my  rebellion,  and  re- 


70  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

ceive  me  to  thyself.  Wert  thou  not  a  God  of  un- 
bounded love  and  inexpressible  kindness,  my  back- 
slidings  must  have  deprived  me  of  thy  favour  for 
ever.  But,  ah,  blessed  be  thy  name,  that  thou  art 
still  the  same  in  all  thy  attributes.  Hence  I  hear  thy 
sacred  word,  "  I  am  the  Lord,  I  change  not;  there- 
fore ye  sons  of  Jacob  are  not  consumed."  Thou  art 
a  Friend  that  loveth  at  all  times,  and  a  Brother  born 
for  adversity.  Come  then,  thou  glorious  Jesus,  be 
propitious  to  my  waiting  soul.  Let  me  feel  thy 
quickening  power;  rouse  me  from  my  spiritual 
slumber,  and  suffer  me  not  to  grow  careless,  O  my 
God.  It  is  my  greatest  desire  to  live  to  thy  glory, 
and  be  devoted,  yea,  ever  devoted  to  thy  service. 
Inspire  me  with  more  zeal,  and  let  my  soul  be  con- 
formed to  thee  in  all  things.  Shine  upon  me  with 
thy  healing  beams,  and  may  my  heart  ever  burn 
with  love,  joy,  and  gratitude. 


Resignation  to  the  Divine  Will. 
So  wise  art  thou,  O  Lord,  in  all  thy  ways,  and 
gracious  in  every  dispensation,  that  I  should  prove 
myself  a  monster  of  ingratitude,  were  I  to  complain 
of  thy  dealings,  or  murmur  at  thy  providences;  and 
yet,  (O  astonishing  depravity!)  my  heart  has  often 
risen  with  impatience,  when  I  have  felt  thy  afflict- 
ing hand,  that  I  have  been  ready  to  say, ct  It  is  bet- 
ter for  me  to  die  than  to  live."  But  not  so  when 
taught  by  the  blessed  Spirit;  no,  dear  Saviour,  I 
could  then  submit  to  thy  divine  will,  and  be  enabled 


KEV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  71 

to  cast  all  my  cares  upon  thee  with  ease  and  de- 
light. But  I  can  almost  as  soon  stop  the  sun,  as  to 
make  myself  resigned,  and  willing  to  suffer:  none 
but  a  superior  power  could  enable  me  to  do  that. 
Well  then,  dear  Lord,  I  commit  myself  to  thee,  and 
should  I  be  all  my  days  kept  in  the  valley  of  adver- 
sity, yet  let  me  not  drop  a  murmuring  word.  If  I 
possess  thee,  precious  Jesus,  though  I  lose  all  be- 
side, yet  I  have  every  thing  that  can  make  me  hap- 
py, for  thou  canst  enable  me  to  rejoice  and  be  thank- 
ful, even  when  every  earthly  comfort  is  taken  from 
me.  I  can  still  say  with  the  Apostle,  "  I  have  all, 
and  abound."  I  desire,  therefore,  O  God,  in  all  my 
troubles,  to  remember,  that  thou  art  making  all 
things  work  together  for  good,  and  to  say  continu- 
ally, with  unspeakable  joy  and  sincere  gratitude, 
"  My  Jesus  hath  done  all  things  well."  In  this  spirit 
may  I  live,  in  this  spirit  may  I  die;  and  when  I  en- 
ter the  celestial  world  above,  it  will  be  my  uninter- 
rupted song  through  all  eternity. 


Happiness  only  in  God. 
Infinitely  blessed  art  thou,  O  God,  in  thyself,  and 
capable  of  making  thy  creatures  unspeakably  happy. 
I  would  upbraid  my  roving  heart,  and  weep  over 
my  vain  spirit,  for  not  repairing  to  thee,  the  eternal 
fountain  of  bliss.  Experience,  it  is  true,  has  as  it 
were  laboured  to  teach  me,  that  all  is  a  blank  beside 
thee,  and  every  day  brings  fresh  demonstrations, 
that  real  felicity  is  only  to  be   found  in  thy  blessed 


71  MEMOIRS  O*  THE 

self.  Beware,  then,  O  my  soul,  of  seeking  after  the 
flower  of  uninterrupted  joy  where  it  cannot  bloom. 
Look,  look  above  all  sublunary  things;  for  though 
they  so  frequently  appear  so  fair,  yet,  alas!  they  are 
full  of  pricking  thorns,  and  only  tend  to  vex  the 
mind,  and  leave  it  burdened  with  anxious  cares. 
Teach  me,  then,  O  Lord,  to  sit  loose  to  every  va- 
nity of  this  world:  may  I  not  set  my  affections  on 
things  below,  but  on  things  above. 

"  O  dearest  Lord,  take  thou  my  heart; 

Where  can  such  sweetness  be, 
As  I  have  tasted  in  thy  love, 

As  I  have  found  in  thee." 

Holy  Spirit,  let  me  be  taken  up  with  the  glorious 
Jesus!  Show  me  more  of  his  love,  and  learn  me  to 
live,  constantly  to  live,  to  his  glory:  let  me  be  rilled 
with  thy  fulness,  so  as  to  be  dead  to  trifles  of  sense, 
and  alive  to  thee  alone.  O  that  I  could  but  walk 
more  as  becometh  thy  gospel,  and  adorn  the  doc- 
trines of  God  my  Saviour  in  all  things.  Ah,  why  is 
it,  my  soul,  that  thou  art  so  insensible  to  the  kind- 
ness of  thy  heavenly  Father,  and  art  so  little  active 
for  him?  "  O  wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall 
deliver  me  from  this  body  of  sin  and  death?"  I 
long  for  the  glorious  time:  O  when  shall  it  once 
be? 


&EV.  CHARLES  BUCK. 


73 


Time  and  Eternity, 
Ah,  why  are  my  golden  moments  so  foolishly  ne- 
glected? why  do  I  lavish  out  my  hours,  as  if  they 
were  of  no  value?  Precious  time,  how  I  abuse 
thee!  how  do  I  let  thee  slip  without  improvement? 
But,  O,  my  soul,  think,  yea,  seriously  think,  that 
when  it  is  once  lost,  it  is  gone  for  ever;  no  recalling 
of  the  past  minutes,  no  stopping  the  present;  and 
shall  I  then  be  careless  about  them?  Forbid  it,  gra- 
cious God!  lest  they  should  stand  as  a  witness  of 
my  negligence  in  the  last  day.  a  So  teach  me, 
therefore,  to  number  my  days,  that  I  may  apply  my 
heart  unto  wisdom."  Alas'  the  wheel  of  time  is 
moving  swiftly  round;  but  soon  shall  it  stop  with 
thee,  O  my  soul,  when  thou  wilt  plunge  into  an 
eternal  world.  Eternity,  eternity!  O  what  is  it?  I 
am  lost  in  the  idea.  Amazing  length!  Where  are  thy 
bounds?  who  can  measure  thee?  I  stand  astonished 
at  the  thought,  while  I  rest  short  of  comprehending 
what  it  is;  and  yet  how  near,  yea,  very  near,  am  I 
reaching  it;  a  few  more  throbbing  pulses,  and  the 
place  that  now  knoweth  me,  shall  know  me  no 
more.  Well  was  it  observed,  "  Life  is  a  moment, 
but  upon  this  moment  eternity  depends."  What, 
then,  shall  I  squander  away  my  days  in  vanity? 
shall  I  be  insensible,  while  I  stand  upon  the  brink 
of  this  awful  eternity?  O  thou  Omnipotent  Being, 
teach  me  how  to  redeem  the  time,  so  that  every 
hour  may  be  filled  up  with  its  proper  duty;  for 
death  is  fast  approaching,  the  night  is  coming  on, 
when  no  man  can  work.  Quicken  me,  then,  O  God, 

G 


74  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

that  I  may  be  in  earnest  with  my  immortal  soul; 
yea,  that  I  may  gain  an  assurance  of  being  in  yon- 
der blissful  regions  of  eternal  light. 


A  Remembrance  of  past  Kindness. 
I  will  now  raise  my  Ebenezer,  and  say,  "  Hither- 
to hath  the  Lord  helped  me;"  thus  far  am  I  come 
on  my  journey.  Many  a  dark  night,  rugged  road, 
and  uncomfortable  scene  have  I  gone  through;  but 
my  God  has  been  my  stay,  and  brought  me  safe  to 
the    present    moment.    Under    the    shadow  of  his 
wings  have  I  been  kept,  while  I  have  been  guarded 
with,  and   supported   by  his   almighty   arm.  With 
what  care  has  he  watched  over  me;   with  what  ten- 
derness he  has  beheld  me;  with  what  love  and  wis- 
dom he  has  guided  me!   How  oft  when  I  have  been 
scheming  for  myself,   and  laying   out  my  projects, 
has  he  frustrated  my  designs,  profitably  disappoint- 
ed me,   and  saved  me  from  submerging   into  un- 
known  trouble  and    sorrow:    and   at   other  times, 
when  I  have  been  ready  to   sink,  as   it  were,  under 
my  difficulties,  and  to  say,   u  I  am  undone,  I  shall 
no  more  see  deliverance,"  has  he  kindly  sent  relief, 
and  unexpectedly  turned  my  pain  into  pleasure!  These 
are  thy  wise   dealings,    O  gracious    God,  which  I 
trust  never,  no,  never,  will  be  erased  from  my  re- 
membrance. Thou  hast  led  me  forth  in  the  right 
way,  and  shall  I  not  hope  that  thou  wilt  be  with  me 
even  to  the  end  of  my  journey?   Ah,  why  should  I 
doubt  it,  or  distrust  thee  for  a  moment?  O  precious 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  T$ 

faith,  dwell  thou  with  me  while  travelling  through 
this  wilderness.  May  I,  in  every  circumstance, 
however  difficult  or  distressing,  be  led  to  thee,  thou 
sovereign  Protector,  thou  adorable  Jehovah! 

'«  Through  the  desart  wild  conduct  me 

With  ,a  glorious  pillar  bright; 
In  the  day  a  cooling  comfort, 

And  a  cheering  fire  by  night. 

"  Be  my  guide  in  ev'ry  peril, 

Watch  me  hourly,  night  and  day, 
Else  my  foolish  heart  will  wander 

From  thy  Spirit  far  away." 


Longing'  for  Heaven. 
Ye  celestial  angels,  when  will  ye  receive  your 
commission  to  guard  my  disembodied  spirit  to  the 
mansions  of  eternal  glory?  How  much  longer  yet 
must  I  dwell  in  this  vain  world,  subject  to  sorrow, 
and  exposed  to  trials  and  afflictions?  When  shall  I 
hear  the  joyful  whisper,  "  Come  away,  and  inherit 
the  peaceful  mansions  above?"  O  welcome  day, 
when  I  shall  be  called  from  exile,  home.  Heaven! 
What  is  it?  It  is  unknown  to  mortal  man.  Eye 
hath  not  seen,  ear  hath  not  heard,  neither  hath  it 
entered  into  the  heart,  what  thou  hast  prepared,  O 
God,  for  those  that  love  thee.  But  yet  I  will  be  bold 
to  say, 


"  That  all  the  heaven  I  there  possess, 
Will  be  the  light  of  Jesu's  face." 


76  3IEM0IRS   OF  THE- 

It  would  be  no  heaven  without  thee;  thou  art  the 
resplendent  Sun,  who  wilt  cause  every  heart  to 
overflow  with  joy.  There  shall  I  see  my  once  fel- 
low-pilgrims, the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect* 
with  all  the  innumerable  company  of  seraphim;  but 
ah,  pleasant  thought,  there  shall  I  behold  the  Lord 
himself!  Ye  happy  bowers,  when  shall  I  once  reach 
you;  ye  aromatic  fields,  ye  groves  of  everlasting- 
verdure,  when  shall  I  enjoy  you?  Ye  pleasant 
streams  of  uninterrupted  happiness,  I  long  to  drink 
of  you.  Ah,  then  shall  I  sorrow  no  more:  thou,  O 
God,  wilt  wipe  away  all  tears  from  my  now  weep- 
ing eyes;  no  sin  shall  distress  my  mind,  no  cloud 
shall  intervene;  but  I  shall  for  ever  delight  in,  and 
enjoy  my  God  and  Saviour.  How  shall  I  traverse 
those  heavenly  plains,  and  join  the  blissful  choir  in 
adoring  the  lamb  through  all  eternity.  Then  shall  I 
sing  with  love  and  gratitude,  Blessing,  and  glory, 
and  wisdom,  and  thanksgiving,  and  honour,  and 
power,  and  might,  be  unto  our  God,  for  ever  and 
ever.   Amen. 


A  Sense  of  the  Love  of  God, 
Why,  O  glorious  Redeemer,  should  1  be  the  ob- 
ject of  thy  love?  I  stand  astonished,  that  ever  thou 
shouldst  look  upon  me,  the  chief  of  sinners!  Surely 
thy  kindness  is  past  description,  thy  goodness  is  un- 
searchable! For  had  not  thine  been  the  love  of  a 
God,  it  could  not  have  extended  to  such  a  rebellious 
creature.  But,  O  God,  I  desire  to  have  it  more  im- 
printed on  my  heart,  that  it  may  constrain  me  to 


REX7.  CHARLES  BUCK.  7? 

love  thee  above  every  object;  give  me  to  see  that  it 
is  everlasting,  distinguishing,  and  free.  What  a 
sweet  thought,  "  That  those  thou  once  lovest,  thou 
wilt  love  to  the  end."  Gracious  God!  I  bless  thee 
that  ever  I  tasted  the  streams  of  this  boundless  river, 
that  maketh  glad  the  city  of  God!  But,  Lord,  I 
would  wish  to  drink  more  still.  Open  mine  eyes  to 
see,  enlarge  my  heart  to  receive,  and  let  me  be  filled; 
yea,  let  me  have  full  measure,  pressed  down,  and 
running  over.  O  that  I  could  but  maintain  a  con- 
tinual sense  of  this  precious  love.  How  strange  is 
it,  that  sometimes  I  should  be  so  delighted  with  it, 
as  not  to  be  expressed,  and  then  again  I  am  as  in- 
different about  it  as  if  I  were  a  stranger  to  it.  But 
what  an  unspeakable  mercy,  that  thou  dost  not 
change,  O  God.  Glory  be  to  thy  name,  that  thou  art 
the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever.  I  thank 
thee,  that  thou  wilt  not  revoke  thy  word,  nor  alter 
thy  affection.  O  let  me,  dear  Saviour,  enjoy  more 
of  thy  love.  Dispel  my  darkness,  takeaway  my  cold- 
ness of  heart,  and  let  me  be  continually  exulting  in 
this  glorious  attribute,  while  I  join  with  the  Psalmist 
in  saying,  "  How  excellent  is  thy  loving  kindness, 
O  God,  therefore  the  children  of  men  put  their  trust 
under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings." 


Mij  Sold  folloxveth  hard  after  thee. 
Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly!  In  this  solita- 
ry wilderness   I   wander,  hoping  that  I  shall  find 
thee  whom  my  soul  loveth.  How  long  shall  I  wait 
G  2 


78  MEMOIRS  OF  TH£ 

for  thy  return?  The  glorious  canopy  above,  tfte 
flowery  meads,  the  murmuring  streams,  the  verdant 
fields,  yea,  all  the  beauties  of  creation,  cannot  suffi- 
ciently content  my  immortal  soul,  without  thee,  O 
God.  "  O  that  I  knew  where  I  could  find  thee." 
Draw  near  to  my  fainting  mind:  speak  peace  to  my 
disconsolate  heart.  Look  upon  a  poor  pilgrim;  re- 
member him  with  that  favour  thou  bearest  unto  thy 
people,  and  visit  hiin  with  thy  salvation.  O  graci- 
ous Saviour,  put  thou  my  tears  into  thy  bottle,  note 
my  feeble  petitions  in  thy  sacred  book.  But  ah, 
Lord,  how  gloomy  is  it  to  walk  this  rugged  road 
without  one  glimmering  ray;  how  uncomfortable  to 
tread  this  thorny  path,  deprived  of  thy  sweet  pre- 
sence. Return,  return,  Almighty  Protector;  my  soul 
moves  on  heavily;   I  faint,  I  sink,  without  thee' 

"  Jesus,  my  Lord,  my  life,  my  light, 

O  come  with  blissful  ray; 
Break  radiant  through  the  shadea  of  night, ' 

And  chase  these  shades  away." 

Then,  ah,  then,  with  what  delight  shall  I  travel  on, 
while  I  contemplate  the  wonders  of  thy  sovereign 
grace,  and  remember  that  every  rolling  hour  brings 
me  nearer  to  my  happy  abode!  Cheer  up,  my  soul; 
a  few  more  battles,  and  the  victory  shall  be  won;  a 
few  more  steps,  and  thy  race  shall  be  ended.  Lord, 
in  patience  let  me  possess  my  soul.  But  O,  while  I 
am  here  below,  keep  me  as  the  apple  of  thine  eye, 
and  amidst  innumerable  foes,  and  successive  trials? 
"  Hold  thou  me  up,  and  I  shall  be  safe. 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  T9 


Rising  above  the  World. 
O  happy  ascension,  it  is  spiritual  and  delightful: 
mount  still  higher,  my  soul;  the  farther  from  the 
world,  the  nearer  to  God!  Descend,  celestial  Dove, 
and  teach  me  to  fly  swifter  from  its  alluring  vanities. 
What  is  there  that  can  profit  or  comfort  me?  Ye 
sons  of  pleasure,  ye  deluded  worldlings,  what  have 
you  to  satisfy  a  soul  that  is  bound  for  eternity?  Alas, 
ye  are  all  physicians  of  no  value,  blanks  that  con- 
tain nothing.  I  turn  from  you,  while  I  behold  the 
vanity  of  your  projects;  though  startled  to  see  you 
playing  upon  the  brink  of  unutterable  woe,  -and 
thoughtless  of  death  and  eternity. 


Fools  that  you  are, 

Never  to  think  of  death  and  of  yourselves 
At  the  same  time!  As  if  to  learn  to  die 
Were  no  concern  of  yours. 


Blair. 


Lord,  I  thank  thee,  that  thou  hast  freely  and  unde- 
servedly called  me  from  the  giddy  throng;  I  bless 
thy  name  a  thousand  times,  adorable  Majesty,  for 
sudi  inexpressible  kindness.  Why  was  I  not  left 
with  them  to  go  down  the  river  of  sin,  into  the  ocean 
of  endless  misery?  Distinguishing  goodness^  won- 
derful love!  May  I  always  bow  at  thy  feet,  O  God, 
with  true  thankfulness  of  heart;  while  I  prove  by 
my  conduct  that  I  love  thee  with  the  greatest  sin- 
cerity. Let  me  not  be  carried  away  by  the  torrent 
of  the  world,  but  stand  steady  in  the  midst  of  their 
opposition.  Let  the   winds  be  high,  or  the  waves 


80  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

roll,  thou  canst  hide  me  under  the  shadow  of  thy 
almighty  and  protecting  wings:  then,  ah,  then  shall 
I  be  safe.  Vain  world,  retain  your  frowns;  ye  sur- 
rounding mockers,  still  despise;  my  God  will  make 
me  infinitely  happy  with  the  smiles  of  his  counte- 
nance; I  shall  experience  that  joy  which  you  cannot 
bestow,  yea,  that  delight  of  which  you  never  can 
deprive  me. 


Haired  to  Sin. 
Dear  Saviour,  let  me  never  be  at  peace  with  this 
accursed  monster!  What,  shall  I  indulge  that  which 
is  an  enemy  to  him  I  profess  to  love?  Shall  I  delight 
in  the  very  thing  that  would  prove  my  eternal  ruin? 
God  forbid!  What  misery  must  attend  my  steps, 
what  guilt  must  load  my  conscience,  if  I  give  way 
to  this  abominable  evil?  But  alas!  how  prone  am  I 
to  do  it,  were  it  not  for  preventing  grace?  How 
soon  should  I  go  astray,  how  readily  backslide,  if 
thou  didst  not  uphold  me,  O  God?  But  glory  be  to 
thy  name,  thou  hast  constrained  me  to  confess,  with 
lip  and  life,  that  I  hate  sin,  with  a  perfect  hatred. 
Thou  knowest,  blessed  Lord,  how  it  frequently 
grieves  my  heart,  and  causes  me  to  go  mourning 
from  day  to  day.  It  is  this  that  is  the  cause  of  all 
my  sorrow,  and  that  often  mars  my  peace.  O  then, 
let  my  aversion  to  it  grow  stronger  and  stronger; 
give  me  a  watchful  eye,  a  steady  heart,  and  a  cou- 
rageous mind,  that  I  may  war  against  it;  may  I  not 
fight  and  fall,   but  fight  and  conquer.  Make  thy 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  8l 

strength  perfect  in  my  weakness:  whatever  trou- 
bles I  am  under,  whatever  afflictions  I  endure, 
whatever  difficulties  I  meet  with,  I  only  ask,  that 
thou  wilt  keep  me  from  this  dreadful  enemy,  know- 
ing "  it  is  more  eligible  to  suffer  than  to  sin."  But, 
alas!  I  have  reason  to  weep  and  lament,  that  I  can- 
not mourn  more  on  account  of  it,  that  I  do  not  pray 
with  more  earnestness  against  it.  O  Lord,  quicken 
me  with  thy  spirit,  u  Order  my  steps  in  thy  word, 
and  let  no  iniquity  have  dominion  over  me." 


Contentment  a  great  Blessing. 
How  much  better  is  it  to  be  contented  with  what 
I  have  received,  than  to  murmur  for  what  I  have 
not.  But,  alas,  I  know  not  when  it  is  well  zvith  me 
— I  frequently  complain  when  there  is  no  occasion. 
Curb  my  impatient  disposition,  and  let  me  be  satis- 
fied with  what  thou  hast  bestowed  upon  me,  O  God. 
Real  contentment  is  only  to  be  learnt  in  the  school 
of  Christ.  Lord,  I  would  humbly  lay  myself  before 
thee,  to  be  taught  by  thy  Spirit.  I  cannot  teach  my- 
self; I  am  altogether  weakness;  but  I  bless  thy 
name,  that  thou  art  able  to  dispense  this  grace  unto 
me.  Come  then,  O  thou  best  of  Friends,  pluck  up 
the  weed  of  discontent,  and  make  me  continually 
happy  in  every  situation  wherein  thou  shalt  place 
me.  Put  an  end  to  all  my  complainings,  and  stop 
my  murmurings  of  heart;  and  whether  in  the  heights 
of  prosperity,  or  depths  of  adversity,  may  I  be  con- 
strained to  say,  "  Thou  hast  done  all  things  well." 


82  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

O  let  there  never  be  a  part  of  my  life,  wherein  I 
should  deviate  from  this  just  sentiment.  But  yet, 
astonishing  depravity!  I  am  almost  ready  at  times 
to  act  as  if  there  were  no  Providence  to  control  or 
direct.  Take  away  such  base  ideas,  O  God,  and  let 
me  live  while  I  live;  yea,  let  all  the  actions  of  my  life 
bear  a  testimony  of  my  dependence  on  thee,  content- 
edness  in  thee,  and  devotedness  to  thee. 


Trusting  in  God, 
How  pleasant  is  it  to  live  by  faith;  how  sweet  to 
be  enabled  to  cast  every  care  upon  a  wise  and  gra- 
cious Saviour,  who  is  ever  willing  to  succour  the  af- 
flicted, and  strengthen  the  weak.  Lord,  I  come  as  a 
poor  unworthy  worm  into  thy  presence,  to  beg  for 
more  faith  to  rely  on  thy  sacred  promises.  Inspire 
me  with  a  holy  confidence  in  thy  word,  so  that  in 
all  my  trials  I  may  look  to  thee,  and  under  every 
distress  depend  upon  thy  unbounded  goodness;  thou 
art  an  unlimited  God,  and  in  thee  dwells  an  ever- 
lasting fulness  of  grace,  for  the  comfort  of  thy  un- 
worthy children;  why  then  should  I  be  for  limiting 
thee;  yea,  why  are  my  thoughts  so  narrow,  my  con- 
ceptions so  small,  of  thy  glorious  self?  Lord,  en- 
large my  scanty  ideas,  give  me  greater  views  of  thy 
compassion,  love,  and  kindness  to  thy  people.  O, 
thou  faithful  Jesus,  in  mercy  remember  my  unfaith- 
ful heart:  wean  me  from  trusting  in  myself,  and 
teach  me  to  trust  in  thee,  and  thee  alone.  May  every 
care,  circumstance^  and  trouble,  be  referred  to  thy 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  83 

hands.  Bless  me  with  that  sweet  grace  of  faith,  let 
it  attend  all  my  steps,  accompany  me  wherever  I 
go,  be  with  me  in  whatever  I  undertake;  let  it  be 
my  companion  in  every  situation  through  life.  I  ask 
it  of  thee;  O  deny  me  not  if  it  be  thy  gracious  will. 
Then  shall  even  the  thorny  path  be  made  easy,  and 
mountains  become  plains,  while  with  this  glass  I  look 
beyond  the  transitory  scenes  below,  to  the  wide 
fields  of  everlasting  glory,  and  comfort  myself  with 
the  thought,  that  every  step  brings  me  nearer  to  this 
long  wished- for  rest. 


Longing' for  more  of  tke  Spirit. 
Alas!  how  empty  is  my  poor  vessel  of  that  blessed 
Spirit,  which  is  the  life  of  my  soul,  and  my  greatest 
joy.  Holy  Ghost,  how  little  do  I  possess  of,  and 
how  little  am  I  actuated  by  thee!  How  much  am  I 
led  by  my  vain  imaginations,  and  governed  by  the 
principle  of  self.  O  that  thou  wouldst  come,  and 
guide  me  into  all  truth.  Direct  and  comfort  me  in 
every  tribulation,  and  keep  my  heart  alive  by  thy 
fructifying  influences.  I  pant,  I  long  for  thee,  O 
thou  blessed  Inspirer  and  Comforter  of  Souls! 


"  Holy  Ghost,  dispel  my  sadness, 
Pierce  the  clouds  of  sinful  night; 

Come  thou  source  of  sweetest  gladness, 
Breathe  thy  life,  and  spread  thy  light." 


Show  me,  O  show  me  the  things  of  Jesus;  teach  me 
more  of  his   everlasting  love,  and  learn  me  to  be 


84  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

more  obsequious  to  his  heavenly  mandates.  O  how 
would  I  grieve,  that  I  do  not  enjoy  thee  more: 
cleanse  my  soul  from  evil  thoughts  and  trifling  vani- 
ties, and  take  up  thy  residence  within  me.  Glorious 
Spirit!  bear  witness  with  my  spirit,  that  I  am  born 
of  thee;  give  me  to  see  that  I  am  sealed  with  thy 
blessed  seal  unto  the  day  of  redemption;  yea,  that 
seal  which  all  the  men  on  earth,  nor  millions  of  in- 
fernal spirits,  can  never  break.  I  thank  thee  that  it 
remains  for  ever.  What  abundant  room  have  I, 
therefore,  to  rejoice.  Begone,  thou  melancholy  sad- 
ness, and  let  me  exult  in  the  precious  promises  of 
my  Lord  and  Saviour!  Surely  I  have  reason  to  say, 
"  Thy  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  thy 
paths  are  peace;"  yea,  and  so  they  will  be,  if  I  have 
but  thy  divine  Spirit  thus  to  enliven  me. 


The  Works  of  God. 
O  that  my  tongue  were  but  as  the  pen  of  a  ready 
writer,  then  would  I  speak  with  liberty  upon  thy 
wonderful  works,  O  Lord;  how  manifold  are 
they,  even  in  creation;  how  wisely  ordered,  how 
beautifully  formed,  and  how  astonishingly  conduct- 
ed. "  Thou,  O  God,  hast  measured  out  the  waters 
in  the  hollow  of  thy  hand,  and  meted  out  heaven 
with  a  span,  and  comprehended  the  dust  of  the  earth 
in  a  measure,  and  weighed  the  mountains  in  scales, 
and  the  hills  in  a  balance." — "  Behold  all  nations  be- 
fore thee  are  as  nothing,  and  less  than  nothing,  and 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  85 

vanity."  Shall  such  puny  mortals  as  men  dare, 
therefore,  to  arraign  thee  at  their  bar,  or  even  admit 
a  thought  that  thou  canst  do  wrong,  or  call  in  ques- 
tion thy  power  and  might,  or  even  assert  that  what 
thou  hast  done  is  useless,  or  that  thy  works  answer 
no  purpose. 

"  Lei  no  presuming  impious  railer  tax 
Creative  wisdom,  as  if  aught  was  form'il 
Ifl  vain,  or  not  for  admirable  ends." 

Thompson. 

0  that  while  the  ignorant  multitude  are  saying, 
"  Who  is  the  Lordr"  may  it  be  my  delight  to  con- 
template his  glorious  works,  and  continually  to  be- 
hold him  in  surrounding  objects.  May  this  God,  the 
maker  of  all  things,  the  framer  of  worlds,  yea,  who 
hangeth  them  upon  nothing,  and  whose  almighty 
command  every  thing  obeyed,  be  my  God;  then  will 

1  not  fear  when  all  these  things  shall  dissolve,  when 
the  elements  melt  with  fervent  heat,  the  protuberant 
rocks  are  torn  in  pieces,  the  lofty  mountains  are 
rent  in  twain,  and  the  whole  creation  in  flames,  even 
then  shall  I  lift  up  my  head  with  joy. 


Imploring  Help  a?id  Assistance. 
Every  moment  is  a  time  of  need  for  me  to  apply 
to  thee,  O  gracious  Father.  I  stand  in  continual  ne- 
cessity of  thy  kind  assistance;  I  cannot  take  another 
step  without  thy  friendly  aid;  be  merciful,  therefore, 
unto  me,  O  God!  Thou  art  well  acquainted  with  my 
H 


86  MEMOIRS  Of"   THE 

weakness;  strengthen  me,  that  I  may  go  forward: 
thou  seest  my  infirmities,  I  beseech  thee,  therefore, 
let  thine  everlasting  arms  be  under  me.  Thou  art  not 
a  stranger  to  my  afflictions,  let  then  thy  grace  sup- 
port me.  O  remember  a  helpless  creature,  now  in 
this  howling  wilderness  wandering  about  in  a  soli- 
tary way.  Unable  to  direct  or  help  myself,  I  would 
again  renew  my  supplications;  O  spurn  me  not  from 
thy  presence,  nor  shut  up  thy  tender  mercy  from 
me:  regard  my  feeble  petitions,  and  be  gracious  unto 
my  waiting  soul.  Ah,  Lord,  I  know  thou  art  ready 
to  help  the  weak,  and  to  look  upon  the  sinner  who  is 
sensible  of  his  sin  and  misery!  What  encouragement 
is  it  to  my  dejected  mind,  "That  a  broken  and  a 
contrite  heart,  O  God,  thou  wilt  not  despise."  Pre- 
cious word,  it  brings  a  ray  of  light,  it  affords  me  a 
little  comfort,  even  when  I  sit  musing  on  my  dis- 
tress. Compassionate  Saviour,  loving  Friend!  I 
thank,  I  adore  thee  for  ever,  that  thou  art  willing  to 
bless,  and  able  to  save  such  a  vile  sinner;  and  as 
thou  didst  not  forget  one  who  once  with  fervency 
cried,  "  Lord,  help  me,"  so  I  trust  thou  wilt  not  be 
deaf  to  my  unworthy  supplications,  discard  my 
groans,  or  reject  even  those  desires  which  I  have 
after  thee,  O  God;  for  thou  hast  kindly  said,  "Who- 
soever will  come  unto  thee,  thou  wilt  in  no  wise  cast 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  87 

Thou  hast  guided  me  by  thy  counsel. 
This  day  I  enter  into  the  nineteenth  year  of  my 
age.  O  what  little  progress  have  I  made;  still  a  babe 
in  religion;  knowing  but  little  of  my  own   heart,  of 
the  subtilty  of  Satan,  and  of  a   vain  world!  And 
what  a  small  part  out  of  this  time  have  I  even  made 
a  profession.   It  is  not  five  years  since  the  Lord  was 
pleased   to  give   me  real  and  serious  impressions, 
which  I  trust  (though  with  a  holy  fear  and  humble- 
ness of  mind  would  I  speak  it)  will  issue  in  my  final 
salvation.  O  that  I    may  be  enabled  to  give  great 
proofs  of  my  calling,  and  that  the  world,  professors, 
and  believers  may  see  that  I  am  determined  to  know 
nothing  else  but   Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified. 
Lord,  do  thou  give  me  evidences  that  I  am  born 
again;  give  me  a  disposition  to  leave  all  for  thy  sake. 
Cut  every  cord,  break  every  chain  that  would  hold 
me  back;  dissolve  every  tie  to  this  world  and  its  va- 
nities,  and  grant,  that  as  my  past  years   have  been 
spent  to  little  or  no  purpose,  that  my  future  (should 
my  life  be  spared)  may  be  continually,  sincerely,  and 
wholly  devoted  to  thee.  But,  Lord,  I  desire  to  praise 
thee  for   the    innumerable,  unmerited  favours  thou 
hast  bountifully  bestowed  upon  me.  Thou  hast  led 
me  forth,  and  guided  me  by  thy  wise  counsel  through 
many  dark  labyrinths;  I  have  been  upheld  alone  by 
thy  power,  and  kept  by  thy  grace.  O  that  now  thou 
wouldst  refresh  me  with  the  heavenly  showers  of  thy 
Spirit.   "  Bear  me  as  on  the  wings  of  an  eagle,  and 
bring  me  to  thyself."  Here  I  am  clogged  too  much 


88  MEMOIR'S  OF  THE 

with  earthly  toys;    O  let  loose  my  soul,  that  it  may 
fly  away  to  eternal  rest  and  glory. 


"  Come,  heavenly  wind,  and  blow 
A  prosperous  gale  of  grace, 
To  waft  from  all  below, 

To  heaven,  my  destin'd  place: 
Then,  in  full  sail,  my  port  I'll  find, 
And  leave  the  world  and  sin  behind." 


Aspiring  after  Humility, 
Notwithstanding  all  the  trials  and  afflictions  I 
have  experienced,  yet  what  an  unhumbled  creature 
am  I!  Lord,  what  a  mercy  it  is  that  thou  dost  bear 
with  such  a  proud  wretch!  No  sooner  is  the  rod 
withdrawn,  but  I  am  apt  to  think  of  myself  more 
highly  than  I  ought  to  think.  But,  O  God,  thou 
knowest  that  I  desire  not  merely  to  talk  of,  but  to 
possess  that  valuable  garment  of  humility.  With 
self-abasement,  therefore,  would  I  wish  to  come  be- 
fore thee,  while  I  use  the  language  of  the  publican, 
u  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  I  have  nothing 
to  bring,  I  have  nothing  to  boast  of,  why  then  should 
I  so  often  vainly  think  much  of  what  I  possess:  if 
I  have  grace,  to  whom  am  I  indebted  but  to  thee, 
O  God:  if  I  possess  gifts,  from  whence  came  they, 
but  from  thee?  If  I  have  temporal  blessings  of  any 
kind,  are  they  not  the  bounties  of  thy  liberal  hand? 
Do  I  enjoy  peculiar  mercies,  whom  have  I  to  praise 
but  thee,  O  Lord?  O  give  me  proper  views  of  these 
things,  that  my  proud  imagination  may  be  removed, 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK. 


89 


and  my  boasting  tongue  be  silent!  Whatever  others 
think,  that  they  are  sufficiently  humble,  I  must  con- 
fess that  I  have  arrived  but  to  a  small  degree  of 
this  grace.  Alas!  pride  seems  to  be  a  constant  at- 
tendant, and  follows  me  wherever  I  go,  and,  as  it 
were,  taints  every  thing  I  do.  Gracious  God,  what- 
ever thou  dost  withhold  from  me,  I  beseech  thee 
withhold  not  a  spirit  of  humility.  May  it  be  my 
particular  characteristic  in  every  action  of  my  life; 
it  is  a  grace  which  makes  the  Christian  shine,  and 
the  more  we  imbibe  that  spirit,  the  more  we  re- 
semble our  dear  Redeemer,  who  abased  himself  on 
earth  that  his  people  might  be  exalted  to  everlasting 
glory! 


Dread  of  carnal  Security* 
O  my  God,  let  me  never  be  at  ease  in  Zion;  keep 
me  from  being   satisfied  only  with  professing  the 
name  of  Christ;  but  may  I  depart  from  all  iniquity. 
What  can  be  more  detestable  in  thy  sight  than  the 
formal  hypocrite?  Thou,  O  Jesus,  in  the  days  of 
thy  flesh,  didst  loudly  inveigh  against  such;  suffer 
me  not,  therefore,  to  be  of  that  character,  and  under 
that  denomination.  Give  me  oil  in  my  lamp,  and  let 
that  gospel  which  I  hear  be  the  power  of  God  unto 
my  salvation.  Lord,  thousands  talk  about  grace,  but, 
awful  to  reflect,  how  few  experience  the  effect  of  it. 
If  heaven  could  be  purchased  by  words,  many  would 
enter  in  and  obtain  it;  but,   O  my  soul,  ever  remem- 
ber that  "  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  in  word  but  in 
power."  What  reason  have  I  to  believe  I  belong  to 
H2 


90  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

God,  if  his  word  do  not  influence  my  conduct? 
Alas,  I  may  vainly  deceive  myself,  and  say,  Peace, 
peace,  when  there  is  none!  Help  me  then,  O  Lord, 
seriously  and  continually  to  examine  myself;  for  to 
be  under  a  delusion  in  this  respect,  is  one  of  the 
most  dreadful  evils  this  side  hell.  It  is  an  awful 
truth,  that  "many  are  called,  but  few  chosen." 
Numbers  hear  that  do  not  fear;  multitudes  attend 
that  never  possessed  a  spark  of  grace;  yea,  and  some 
come  with  a  kind  of  satisfaction,  and  are  even  af- 
fected with  what  they  hear,  but,  dreadful  to  think, 
it  soon  wears  off  again,  and  then  they  get  (in  one 
sense)  more  hardened  than  ever!  O  that  I  never  may 
be  found  with  these,  O  God.  Surely  their  condem- 
nation must  be  great;  for  thou  wilt  say  unto  them, 
"  Take  them,  bind  them  hand  and  foot,  and  cast 
them  into  outer  darkness,  where  shall  be  weeping 
and  gnashing  of  teeth." 


Desiring1  to  be  kept  from  Slothfulness. 
How  vigilant  are  the  men  of  this  world  in  pursuit 
of  those  things  which  must  soon  decay;  how  assi- 
duous are  they  in  laying  up  treasures-  on  earth, 
where  moth  and  rust  can  corrupt,  and  thieves  break 
through  and  steal;  but,  alas!  how  backward  am  I  in 
working,  as  it  were,  for  eternity!  Shame  be  to  my 
soul,  that  I  lose  so  many  prt  cious  hours,  and  do  so 
little  for  my  Heavenly  Master!  How  am  I  kept  back 
by  slothfulness,  and  how  fond  of  self  ind  ilgence!  O 
God,  I  work  for  thee,  as  if  thou  wert  cruel  or  hard 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  91 

to  me!  I  run  as  if  there  were  no  prize  to  obtain:  I  fre- 
quently act  as  if  I  had  never  experienced  the  least 
of  thy  goodness.  O  Holy  Spirit,  descend  and  dif- 
fuse life  into  my  inactive  soul,  and  make  me  sted- 
fast,  immoveable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of 
the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  I  know  my  labour  is  not  in 
vain  in  the  Lord:  and  let  me  consider  for  a  moment, 
how  is  it  that  I  am  so  spiritually  indolent  in  the 
cause  of  God,  when  I  have  received  so  many  fa- 
vours from  him.  How  is  it  that  I  can  be  careless, 
when  I  do  not  know  that  I  shall  have  another  mo- 
ment given  me?  How  is  it  that  I  can  be  slothful 
when  I  am  conscious  that  death  will  soon  arrive  to 
demand  my  soul,  and  my  tabernacle  drop  to  the 
dust?  How  is  it  that  I  am  not  more  diligent,  when 
I  remember  that  the  Lord  eyes  me  continually? 
How  is  it  that  I  think  so  little  about  my  immortal 
soul,  and  am  so  indifferent,  when  I  reflect  that  I  must 
stand  at  the  bar  of  God  to  give  an  account.  Think 
seriously,  think,  O  my  soul,  on  these  things,  lest  the 
Lord,  when  he  cometh,  should  find  me  as  the  bar- 
ren fig-tree,  and  pronounce  an  everlasting  curse 
upon  me. 


Looking  for  the  general  Judgment* 
What  an  awful  day  must  this  be,  when  the  sons 
of  Adam  will  burst  from  their  graves  at  the  sound 
of  the  awful  trumpet:  some  rising  to  everlasting  life, 
others  to  everlasting  shame  and  contempt.  See  with 
what  horror  the  wicked  go  to  receive  their  direful 


92  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

sentence;  conscience  condemning;  their  sins  set  in 
array  before  them;  ministers,  believers,  former 
friends,  relations,  sermons,  privileges,  and  oppor- 
tunities, perhaps  bearing  witness  against  them; 
while  Satan  stands  ready  to  plunge  them  into  the 
gulph  of  inexpressible  torment!  Alas!  how  ghastly 
th«  ir  countenance,  how  miserable  their  minds!  O 
God,  let  me  not  be  of  the  unhappy  number;  but 
on  the  contrary,  may  I  be  found  at  thy  right  hand, 
to  receive  the  blessed  sentence,  "  Enter  thou  into 
the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  But,  O  my  soul,  think,  even 
now  think,  what  a  tremendous  day  that  will  be, 
u  When  the  heavens  shall  pass  away  with  a  great 
noise,  and  the  elements  melt  with  fervent  heat;  the 
earth  also,  and  the  works  that  are  therein,  shall  be 
burnt  up."  With  what  majesty  will  the  judge  ap- 
pear! Awful  sight!  Well  might  the  poet  sing, 

"Lo,  he  comes,  with  clouds  descending', 
Once  for  favour'd  sinners  slain ; 
Thousand,  thousand  saints  attending", 
Swell  the  triumph  of  his  train." 

O  precious  Saviour,  let  me  be  one  of  that  glori- 
ous throng.  O  forbid,  forbid  that  on  that  day  I  should 
be  drawn  forth  with  the  workers  of  iniquity,  to  hear 
the  awful  word  pronounced,  "  Depart  from  me,  ye 
cursed,  into  everlasting  burnings,  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels."  I  beseech  thee,  let  me  be  in- 
terested in  thy  blood,  and  adorned  with  thy  righte- 
ousness, so  that  when  the  solemn  period  arrives,  I 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK, 


93 


»ay  be  enabled  to  look  to  the  Judge  with  joy.  Even 
so,  O  Lord.  Amen. 


Deliverance  from  HelL 
Why  am  I  not  confessing  thy  justice  in  the  gloomy 
cavern  of  hell,  and  made  a  monument  of  thy  ever- 
lasting wrath?  Why  am  I  not  with  infernal  spirits, 
experiencing  the  power  of  thine  anger?  Why  not  in 
blackness  of  darkness,  raging  in  dreadful  despair? 
Why!  Because  of  the  free  and  distinguishing  love 
of  a  Saviour!  No  other  reason  can  be  assigned.  It 
is  not  on  account  of  any  thing  inherently  in  me. 
Alas!  I  deserve  eternal  banishment  from  thee,  O 
God;  and  if  thou  wert  to  enter  into  judgment  with 
me,  I  must  sink  before  thee  as  self-condemned  for 
ever.  But,  O,  the  riches  of  thy  mercy,  the  greatness 
of  thy  love,  that  thou  shouldst  remember  me  with 
pity,  and  behold  me  with  kindness;  yea,  that  I 
should  be  plucked  as  a  brand  from  this  burning! 
Not  unto  me,  not  unto  me,  but  unto  thy  name  be 
all  the  glory.  But,  O,  the  misery  of  those  who  will 
be  sentenced  to  dwell  in  everlasting  flames,  "  where 
they  will  weep  with  dry  tears,  yet  none  of  their 
pain  will  be  allayed  by  weeping."  Shocking  situa- 
tion! How  will  they  wish  they  never  had  been  born, 
and  gnash  their  teeth  in  reflecting  on  their  past 
folly.  For  ever,  for  ever,  for  ever,  will  they  be 
locked  up  in  that  infernal  prison.  O  how  welcome 
would  death  be  to  them  could  they  but  die;  but, 
alas!  Death  has  dore  his  work,  and  is  as  it  were  ex- 


94>  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

pired  himself.  As  the  Poet  says,  when  speaking  of 
the  judgment  day, 

"  Death,  wrapt  in  chains,  low  at  the  basis  lies, 
"  And  on  the  point  of  his  own  arrow  dies." 

Young. 

I  would  meditate  on  these  things  to  rouse  myself, 
while  I  continually  would  pray,  u  Lord  Jesus,  de- 
liver me  from  the  wrath  to  come,"  and  let  me  not 
perish  with  the  wicked  in  eternal  woe  and  misery. 
Amen. 


Spending  an  Eternity  with  God, 
Adorable  Saviour!  I  long  to  be  set  at  liberty,  and 
to  be  freed  from  all  the  pains  and  sorrows  of  a  mor- 
tal state.  Ah,  blessed  Eternity,  when  shall  I  enjoy 
thee,  and  when  shall  I  see  my  Redeemer  face  to 
face?  When  wilt  thou  admit  me  into  thy  glorious 
presence?  My  soul  longs  for  the  happy  moment;  it 
looks  forward  with  joy  to  the  blissful  time,  when 
thou  wilt  say,  "  Come  up  hither."  But  O,  amazing 
thought,  an  eternity,  shall  I  spend  in  those  heavenly 
courts!  After  thousands,  ten  thousands  of  years  are 
gone,  still  it  will  be  no  diminishing  of  eternity!  O, 
my  soul,  give  it  a  consideration;  let  it  be  a  means 
of  rejoicing,  while  thou  art  here  in  time,  that  thou 
wilt  be  with  God  hereafter  in  this  eternity.  But, 
alas!  I  hear,  I  read,  I  talk  about  it,  as  if  I  were  not 
concerned  therein.  O  God,  impress  it  on  my  mind, 
and  in  every  trouble,  situation,  trial,  circumstance, 
and  affliction,  let  me  not  lose  sight  of  this.  Day  and 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  95 

night,   in  prosperity  or  adversity,   let   me   always 
have  it  set  before  me;  let  not  the  vanities  of  this 
world,  or  any  of  the  trifles  of  sense,  wean  my  mind 
from  the  contemplation  of  it.   And  now,  O  God,  I 
would  fervently  beg  of  thee  to  keep  me  while  here 
below;  let  me  not  turn  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the 
left,  but  walk  uprightly  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked 
and  perverse  generation.  Give  me  thy  blessing,  fa- 
vour me  with  thy  presence,  support  me  by  thy  grace, 
and  enable  me  continually  to  look  forward  to  that 
inheritance  which  is  incorruptible,    undented,  and 
that  fadeth  not  away.  Then  will  I  sing, 


In  hope  of  that  immortal  crown, 
I  now  the  cross  sustain, 

And  gladly  wander  up  and -down, 
And  smile  at  toil  and  pain.'* 


On  Mr.  Buck's  return  to  London,  he  resumed 
his  labours  at  Silver  Street  Chapel,  in  connection 
with  his  respected  friend  Mr.  Wills.  Preaching 
was  his  delight;  every  day  he  acquired  more  ac- 
curacy and  boldness:  though  not  nineteen  years  of 
age,  he  was  heard  with  attention  and  pleasure  bv 
numerous  congregations.  This  excited  the  envy 
and  malice  of  many  with  whom  his  profession  as  a 
lawyer  necessarily  associated  him;  for  he  had  not 
yet  relinquished  his  secular  employment. 

"  I  soon  became  marked,  (says  he)  derided,  and 
ridiculed.  This  I  regarded  not,  but  considered  it  as 
an  honour  to  suffer  persecution  for  righteousness- 


96  MEMOIRS  Of  THE 

sake.  A  few  came  occasionally  to  hear  me;  and 
sometimes,  when  there  was  any  religious  dispute 
among  the  clerks  of  my  office,  an  appeal  was  made 
to  me  for  my  opinion;  while  others,  knowing  my 
sentiments,  used  to  blaspheme  the  more,  by  way  of 
provocation.  I  would  only  just  observe  here,  how 
necessary  it  is  for  Christians  to  act  with  prudence, 
vigilance,  and  caution,  when  placed  in  situations 
where  every  eye  is  upon  them,  eager  to  detect  in 
their  deportment  something  which  may  be  turned 
to  their  disadvantage.  Yet  in  such  circumstances 
let  them  not  indulge  gloom,  but  rather  a  cheerful- 
ness of  spirit,  that  the  enemies  of  religion  may  per- 
ceive that  they  have  not  exchanged  the  pleasures  of 
the  world  for  a  melancholy  fanaticism.  I  was  ena- 
bled, I  hope,  to  pursue  this  plan,  and  did  not  consi- 
der myself  offended  with  the  bitter  sarcasms  and 
the  irreligious  jeers  thrown  upon  me  by  those  who 
were  ignorant  of  the  power  of  religion. 

"  There  was  a  gentleman  in  this  profession,  much 
older  than  myself,  very  clever,  sensible,  and  judi- 
cious, not  at  all  of  licentious  morals,  but  who  made 
no  particular  profession  of  religion:  he  was  much 
respected,  and  had  many  friends:  he  was  taken  ill, 
and,  to  my  surprise,  sent  for  me.  He  knew,  indeed, 
that  I  was  religiously  inclined;  but  I  should  have 
supposed  that  he  would  have  rather  sent  for  the  mi- 
nister of  the  parish  than  for  me.  I  however  went. 
I  found  him  very  ill;  but  he  was  exceedingly  glad 
to  see  me.  On  conversing  with  him  as  to  the  state 
of  his  mind,  he  did  not  appear  to  me  to  have  exactly 
right  views  of  divine  things,  but  talked  too  much 


REV.   CHARL] 


about  the  "virtue  of  his  prayers."  I  observed  to 
him,  that  we  had  all  violated  God's  sacred  law,  and 
come  short  of  his  glory;  that  by  nature  we  were  all 
depraved;  and  that  nothing  but  the  blood  of  Christ 
could  pardon  our  sins,  and  his  righteousness  justify 
our  souls.  After  some  time  spent  upon  these  topics, 
he  said,  "  These  were  things  he  was  a  stranger  to." 
I  repeated  that  passage  in  John,  vi.  37.  and  that  in 
1  John,  i.  7.  from  which  he  seemed  to  derive  great 
consolation.  After  assuring  him  that  Jesus  was  will- 
ing to  receive  all  poor  sinners,  who  saw  themselves 
lost  by  nature,  and  felt  their  need  of  him;  he  broke 
out  into  a  kind  of  rapture,  and  exclaimed,  "  O  hea- 
venly youth,  thou  hast  brought  me  consolation  in- 
deed." He  endeavoured  to  repeat  every  now  and 
then,  when  I  spoke  any  thing  encouraging,  and 
would  say,  "  Heavenly  thought!  heavenly  thought!" 
When  I  mentioned  any  of  the  promises,  he  said, 
"  They  have  found  their  way  to  my  heart."  I  was, 
however,  still  desirous  of  having  a  little  more  evi- 
dence of  his  really  feeling  the  evil  of  sin;  but,  on 
further  conversation,  I  was  somewhat  relieved  by 
observing  the  compunction  of  his  conscience.  He 
observed,  "  that  though  the  world  thought  well  of 
him,  yet  he  could  see  into  his  heart.  There  (says 
he)  is  the  black  catalogue  of  my  sins. — I  have  my 
doubts."  I  was  anxious  to  know  from  what  these 
doubts  arose,  and  therefore  asked  him,  whether  it 
was  on  account  of  his  sins;  when  he  answered, 
**  Yes,  it  is  that,  it  is  that."  In  engaging  in  prayer 
with  him,  he  seemed  to  eat  every  word,  and  at  the 
end  of  almost  every  sentence  he  could  not  refrain 

I 


y«  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

from  expressing  his  approbation,  and  joining  in  the 
same  exercise.  I  left  him  in  a  state  of  triumph,  and 
in  a  few  days  afterwards  he  expired.  I  am  no  great 
advocate  for  what  are  called  death-bed  conversions, 
but  I  fear  sometimes  we  may  go  to  the  contrary  ex- 
treme. Grace  can  and  doth  save  at  the  eleventh 
hour;  let  none,  however,  presume.  Those  who  are 
most  desirous  to  delay  to  the  last  are  the  most  like- 
ly to  come  short  after  all.  Disease  may  lock  up  the 
senses  long  before  dissolution,  or  death  may  come 
suddenly;  besides,  the  older  we  grow  in  sin,  the 
more  hardened  we  are  in  it.  How  does  it  become 
us  all  then  immediately  to  seek  for  mercy,  and  choose 
that  one  thing  needful  that  cannot  be  taken  from 
us." 

"  It  afforded  me  some  degree  of  encouragement 
that  I  was  rendered  useful  in  any  way.  My  morn- 
ing lecture  at  Silver  Street  afforded  me  much  plea- 
sure, by  accounts  which  I  received  of  good  being 
done.  One  instance  I  will  here  relate: — I  dreamed 
one  night  that  I  was  called  to  preach,  but  when  in 
the  pulpit,  I  found  the  wind  so  strong,  as  to  be  un- 
able to  approach  the  front  to  give  out  the  text.  The 
passage  I  had  chosen  in  my  dream  was  Prov.  xvii. 
1.  When  I  awoke,  I  could  not  recollect  what  the 
words  were;  but  having  the  Bible  by  my  bed-side, 
I  turned  to  it,  and  found  that  they  were  these, 
"  Better  is  a  dry  morsel,  and  quietness  therewith, 
than  a  house  full  of  sacrifice  with  strife."  The 
words  did  not  make  any  particular  impression  at 
first,  but  afterwards  they  so  followed  me,  that  I 
thought  I  would  take  them  for  a  text.  I  found  it 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  99 

rather  difficult  to  make  a  plan  on  them  agreeable  to 
my  wishes:  at  last  I  threw  together  two  or  three 
observations,  and  delivered  a  discourse  from  them. 
Very  soon  after,  I  received  a  letter,  informing  me 
of  the  happy  effects  produced  by  this  sermon  on  the 
heart  and  life  of  an  individual,  who  described  her- 
self as  having  been  a  "  sinner  in  the  high  road  to 
destruction."  She  became  an  exemplary  Christian, 
and  is,  I  believe,  now  walking  in  the  way  to  heaven. 
— From  this  circumstance  I  wish  to  remark,  that  I 
place  no  confidence  in  dreams,  as  they  arise  from  a 
variety  of  causes;  but  I  think  sometimes  we  may 
go  into  an  opposite  extreme.  If  any  thing  valuable 
is  suggested,  even  in  a  dream,  we  do  well  to  attend 
to  it;  and  thus  our  sleeping  hours  may  be  rendered 
profitable,  as  well  as  our  waking  ones. — From  the 
above  circumstance  I  would  also  observe,  how  ne- 
cessary it  is  for  ministers  to  adopt  that  mode  of 
preaching  which  comes  home  to  the  bosoms  and 
the  hearts  of  the  people.  Let  me  entreat  all  young 
ministers  to  avoid  the  temptation  so  common  to 
them,  of  attempting  to  appear  as  something  superior 
in  the  mere  display  of  intellect,  and  the  gaudy  shew 
of  language.  Not  regardless  of  the  improvement  of 
natural  abilities,  not  despising  helps  from  any  quar- 
ter, not  undervaluing  sterling  eloquence,  let  the 
pointed  arrows  of  divine  truth  be  directed  to  the 
heart.  I  am  no  enemy  to  close  reasoning,  sound  ar- 
gument, or  propriety  of  arrangement;  but  I  am  per- 
suaded, that  after  a  clear  elucidation  of  the  text,  the 
more  a  minister  can  engage  the  affections,  throw 
himself  into  the  heart  of  his  auditors,  and  thus  pos- 


100  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

sess  the  whole  soul,  the  better.  We  have  had  in  this 
metropolis  a  model,  which  many  would  do  well  to 
remember,  I  mean  the  late  respected  and  useful 
Henry  Foster.  Possessed  of  no  natural  eloquence, 
no  vivid  imagination,  no  extraordinary  genius,  no 
vast  depths  of  learning;  his  appropriate  quotations 
of  Scripture,  his  unparalleled  delineations  of  human 
nature,  his  plain  and  just  selection  of  images,  his 
striking  descriptions  of  Christian  experience,  and, 
above  all,  his  solemn,  close,  and  affecting  addresses 
to  the  heart,  were  such,  that  the  attention  was  ge- 
nerally fixed,  and  the  congregation  went  away  out 
of  love  with  themselves,  but  with  a  determination 
again  to  hear  a  man  that  did  not  play  with  their 
fancies,  shoot  over  their  heads,  or  present  them 
with  what  cost  him  nothing." 

"  But  to  return  to  my  own  history.  Notwith- 
standing I  had  engaged  so  much  in  public  preach- 
ing, and,  my  labours  rendered  somewhat  useful,  still 
I  was  but  a  novice;  not  twenty  years  of  age,  my 
classical  knowledge  was  but  small,  and  my  theolo- 
gical attainments,  in  my  own  view  at  least,  but  su- 
perficial. An  offer  was  made  to  send  me  to  one  of 
the  universities,  but  my  reverend  friend  Mr.  Wills, 
taking  into  consideration  the  little  prospect  of  pre- 
ferment, and  that  as  I  possessed  a  talent  for  preach- 
ing, it  might  be  a  loss  of  time  to  be  precluded  so 
long  from  active  service,  he  therefore  proposed  my 
being  placed  in  the  academy  at  Hoxton,  where  I 
could  pursue  my  studies  without  being  altogether 
excluded  from  the  pulpit  on  the  Lord's  Day." 

Before  I  proceed  to  narrate  the  circumstances  of 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  101 

Mr.  Back's  admission  into  this  seminary,  I  shall 
close  this  chapter  with  the  solemn  and  interesting 
I  reflections  with  which  he  entered  upon  the  year 
1791.  The  paper  is  dated  January  1st,  and  is  enti- 
jtled, 

A  MINISTERIAL  THOUGHT. 

"  Think,    seriously  think,  O  my  soul,  what  an 
important  work  thou  art  now  engaged  in!   An  am- 
bassador for  God;   a  herald,  a  messenger  from  the 
Court  of  Heaven!   How  solemn  the  office;  how  ar- 
duous the  task!  What  need  of  love  to  speak  to  dy- 
ing mortals,  who  are  careless  about  their  precious 
souls;  what  need  of  zeal  to  continually  warn  such 
to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come;  what  need  of  faith- 
fulness  to  keep    nothing  back,  but  to  declare  the 
whole  counsel   of  God  to  them,   that  they  may  see 
and  know  their  tremendous  situation;  what  need  of 
issiduity  and  diligence  in  exhorting  them  to  turn 
from  dead  works  to  the  living  God,  and  reminding 
them  of  their  awful  and  dangerous  state,  in  playing 
about  the  brink  of  eternal  ruin!   what  need  of  pa- 
ience,  when  thy  reproofs  recoil  back  again  on  thy- 
elf,  and  when  reviled  and  rejected  by  them;  what 
leed  of  courage,  boldly  to  set  forth  the  truths  of 
God,  and  not  to  be  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ; 
what  need  of  humility   to  speak  the  word  with  all 
lainness  and  simplicity  of  mind,  so  that  no  offence 
ay  be  given  to  the  church  of  God  by  vain  pompo- 
ity  or  inconsistent  ostentation;  what  need  of  setting 
good  example  in  conversation,  in  charity,  in  spi- 
it,  in  faith,  in  purity;  what  need  of  knowledge  of 

I  2 


102  MEMOIRS  or  THfe 

the  Scriptures,  of  sin,  of  the  heart,  of  God,  of  Sa- 
tan, that  things  suitable  may  be  delivered  to  every 
case;  what  necessity  for  a  constant  looking  to,  and 
depending  upon  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  make  the  word 
effectual  to  the  salvation  of  sinners,  and  consolation 
of  saints.  O,  my  God,  how  shall  I,  the  unwonhiest 
of  all  thy  creatures,  be  able  to  go  forward  in  this 
great  work.  I  am  but  a  stripling  to  engage  in  so 
awful  a  business.  O  help  me,  thou  blessed  Jesus, 
that  as  I  have  put  my  hand  to  the  plough,  I  may 
not  look  back;  for  awful,  thrice  awful  will  it  be  for 
me,  if  that  should  be  the  case,  for  thou  hast  said, 
;t  Such  are  not  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God."  O  let 
me  therefore  be  found  faithful  even  unto  death;  let 
not  the  blood  of  any  poor  sinner  be  required  at  my 
hands,  I  know  I  am  weak,  but  I  implore  strength 
of  thee  to  enable  me  to  persevere.  Let  my  feeble 
attempts  be  crowned  with  abundant  success.  I  de- 
sire, O  God,  to  be  useful  in  thy  cause;  make  me 
an  instrument  in  thy  hands,  of  bringing  wandering 
souls  home  to  thee  the  great  Shepherd.  But  O  let 
me  remember,  with  shame  and  confusion  of  face, 
how  slothful  and  negligent  I  have  been!  how  cold 
when  discoursing  on  the  most  animating  truths! 
how  backward  and  indifferent  in  speaking  of  thy 
love  and  goodness!  Shame  be  to  me,  to  do  so  little 
for  such  a  kind  Saviour!  O  give  me  a  heart,  dear 
Lord,  to  mourn  more  for  my  carelessness  about  thee 
and  thy  everlasting  gospel.  I  look  up  to  thee  to 
grant  me  more  grace  to  speak  of  thee  with  all  ear- 
nestness on  the  one  hand,  and  to  adorn  thy  doctrine 
ih  all  things  on  the  other. 


AfcV.  CHAilLES  BUCK.  103 

It  is  true,  the  work  of  the  ministry  is  an  awful 
work,  but  yet  it  is  honourable.  That  God  should 
choose  a  worm,  sinful  dust  and  ashes,  to  speak  to 
the  immortal  souls  of  men.  How  condescending  and 
wonderful !  But,  alas!  how  manv  are  there  that  take 
the  name  of  the  ministers  of  Go  i,  when  at  the  same 
time,  they  are  serving  the  devil,*  whose  life  and 
conduct  prove  thut  they  are  strangers  to  grace;  who 
pretend  to  preach  Christ,  but  never  yet  experienced 
his  love  in  their  hearts*  who  profess  to  know  him, 
but  in  works  deny  him.  O  miserable  mortals,  blind 
leading  the  blind;  little  do  they  think  of  the  worth 
of  never  dying  souls!  What  a  sad  account  will  they 
have  to  render  at  the  last  day,  when  thousands  will 
be  ready  to  curse  them  for  not  being  faithful  to  their 
souls,  and  not  exhorting  them  to  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come.  O  my  soul,  come  not  thou  into  their  as- 
sembly here,  and,  O  God,  suffer  me  not  to  be  drawn 
forth  with  these  ministers  of  iniquity  hereafter,  for 
great  must  be  their  punishment,  even  everlasting 
burnings,  blackness  of  darkness,  inexpressible  tor- 
ment, for  ever  and  ever.  Let  me,  therefore,  never 
trifle  with  souls,  but  labour  with  all  diligence  to 
turn  men  from  darkness  to  light,  from  the  love  of 
sin  to  the  love  of  God,  from  the  pursuit  of  this  evil 
world  to  the  pursuit  of  a  better.  But,  Lord,  the 
work  is  thine  own,  and  thou  hast  declared  thy  word 
shall  not  return  unto  thee  void;  I  therefore  desire 
to  depend  on  thee  alone;  all  hum  «n  aid  will  avail 
nothing  without  thy  divine  pover.  Thy  Spirit  must 
unlock  the  heart,  convey  the  truth,  and  make  it  ef- 
fectual for  the  conversion  of  poor  sinners.  Lord, 


104"  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

enable  me  to  speak,  but  do  thou  bless,  or  all  will 
be  in  vain.  Give  me,  if  it  be  thy  adorable  will,  ma- 
ny spiritual  children,  and  prepare  me  for  and 
strengthen  me  for  every  trial.  And  O,  my  dear  Sa- 
viour, let  me  never  be  allured  or  led  away  by  the 
deceitful  smiles  of  an  evil  world.  Thoa  knowest 
how  ready  I  am  to  hearken  to  their  illusive  whis- 
pers; keep  me  then  from  every  snare,  be  as  a  wall  of 
fire  round  about  me:  but  particularly  would  I  pray 
against  those  dreadful,  yea,  artful  enemies,  self  and 
pride,  that  lay  so  near,  yea,  live  too  much  in  my 
heart.  Surely  I  have  need  to  pray  with  trembling, 
I  have  need  to  study  with  trembling,  I  have  need 
to  converse  with  trembling,  I  have  need  to  preach 
with  trembling,  lest  those  monsters  should  gain  a 
still  greater  power  over  me,  and  be  the  means  of 
retarding  my  progress  in  the  important  undertak- 
ing. 

And  as  I  know  not  the  difficulties,  and  am  not 
aware  of  the  innumerable  trials  I  may  meet  with, 
I  now  beseech  thee  to  give  strength  for  the  day; 
and  do  thou  teach  me  to  bear  every  affliction  with 
all  long-suffering,  patience,  resignation,  and  content- 
ment. I  now,  therefore,  dedicate  myself  to  thee  this 
day,  trusting  thou  wilt  not  let  me  go,  henceforth 
nor  for  ever.   Amen. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  10a 


CHAP.  II. 

7rom  Mr*  Buck's  entering1  upon  preparatory  Studies 
for  the  Ministry )  to  his  settlement  at  Sheemess,] 

Perhaps  no  candidate  for  the  sacred  ministry 
ever  entered  upon  academical  studies  with  a  deeper 
sense  of  the  importance  of  the  work  to  which  he 
was  devoting  himself,  than  the  subject  of  these  me- 
moirs. He  powerfully  felt  that  his  attainments  were 
to  be  wholly  subservient  to  his  usefulness  as  a 
Christian  divine.  At  the  time  of  Mr.  Buck's  ad- 
mission, Hoxton  Academy  was  in  its  infancy: 
strong  prejudices  were  entertained  against  it  by  the 
regular  dissenters  and  methodists.  The  former  were 
jealous  of  the  prerogatives  of  their  ancient  Homer- 
ton,  and  the  latter  considered  it  as  an  unnecessary, 
and  even  impious  encroachment  upon  divine  teach- 
ing. But  its  benevolent  founders  well  knew  that  the 
circumstances  of  the  Christian  world  imperiously 
demanded  such  an  institution. — Many  young  men 
were  rising  up,  endowed  with  the  talents,  and  im- 
bued with  the  spirit  of  preaching.  Homerton  would 
not  then  receive  any  whose  zeal  had  hurried  them 
into  the  flagrant  iniquity  of  ascending  a  pulpit  with- 
out first  passing  through  academical  bowers;  and 
the  methodists  welcomed  all  who  offered  them- 
selves, with  little  or  no  discrimination.  Homerton 


106  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

required  ministers  to  be  profound  scholars;  the  me- 
thodists  ran  into  the  other  extreme.  An  academy 
that  should  embrace  the  happy  medium,  that  should 
work  up  and  employ  all  the  materials  that  would 
otherwise  have  been  useless  or  injurious  to  the  in- 
terests of  religion,  in  the  shortest  time  and  to  the 
best  purpose,  was  a  desideratum.  This  necessity 
gave  birth  to  the  seminary  in  question.  At  its  com- 
mencement, it  merely  professed  to  teach  the  rudi- 
ments of  classical  learning,  and  the  Principia  of 
theology.  The  term  of  study  was  sufficiently  limi- 
ted, and  that  was  greatly  encroached  upon  by  the 
preaching  of  the  students,  almost  as  soon  as  they 
entered.  The  old  dissenters  laughed,  and  cracked 
their  jokes  about  hot  beds,  mushrooms,  and  nur- 
series; the  enemies  of  academical  institutions,  how- 
ever, began  to  feel  the  influence  of  this  rising  se- 
minary; the  unprejudiced  and  thoughtful  of  all  par- 
ties perceived,  that  with  proper  management  and 
growing  improvement,  it  would  in  a  few  years  pro- 
duce a  revolution  in  the  public  mind,  favourable  at 
once  to  the  interests  of  learning  and  piety.  What 
they  anticipated  soon  came  to  pass,  and  Hoxtort 
College,  as  it  is  somewhat  pompously  called  by  a 
few  of  its  friends,  now  stands  pre-eminent  among 
its  predecessors  and  contemporaries.  It  has  greatly 
enlarged  the  plan  of  instruction,  and  extended  the 
term  of  study;  having  its  Professors  of  Humanity, 
of  Belles  Lettres,  of  Natural  and  Moral  Philoso- 
phy. The  Divinity  chair  has  been  long  filled  by  the 
Rev.  Robert  Simpson,  D.  D.  who,  on  account  of 
his  age,  and  growing  infirmities,  is  expected  to  give 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  107 

place  to  one  of  the  first  theologians  of  his  age. — 
For  all  this  it  is,  under  God,  chiefly  indebted  to 
Thomas  Wilson,  Esq.  With  a  handsome  fortune, 
his  father  left  him,  as  a  legacy,  the  care  of  this  se- 
minary, which  had  risen  under  his  auspices;  and  he 
has  indeed  cherished  it  with  a  zeal,  assiduity,  and 
perseverance  altogether  unparalleled  in  the  history 
of  Christian  benevolence.  His  son,  Mr.  Joshua  Wil- 
son, is  "  soaring"  also  u  to  the  regions  of  his  sire," 
and  promises  to  sustain  with  equal  energy  the  cause 
which  from  his  early  life  has  been  associated  with 
his  best  feelings  and  most  ardent  pursuits. 

The  method  in  which  candidates  are  introduced 
into  this  and  other  similar  institutions,  may  be  con- 
sidered as  one  great  cause  of  their  prosperity  and 
usefulness.  Unequivocal  evidences  of  personal  reli- 
gion are  indispensible.  The  individuals  are  not  only 
recommended  by  competent  persons,  and  the 
Christian  society  with  which  they  are  connected; 
but  they  undergo  the  strictest  examination  of  a  com- 
mittee of  wise  and  pious  ministers  and  laymen,  be- 
fore whom  they  give  an  account  of  their  experience 
in  the  things  of  God,  and  a  statement  of  the  doc- 
trines which  they  believe.  At  Hoxton  also  a  trial  is 
made  of  their  gifts  as  public  speakers,  and  they 
have  then  to  undergo  in  the  seminary  a  probation  of 
three  months. 

Through  all  these  preliminary  steps  Mr.  Buck 
passed  with  credit  to  himself.  In  the  paper  which 
lies  before  me,  entitled,  "  A  brief  Account  of  the 
Conversion  and  Experience  of  C.  B.,  as  delivered 
to  the  Tutor,  Treasurer,  and    Committee  of  the 


108  MEMQIRS  OF   THE 

Evangelical  Academy,  the  6th  day  of  May  1791," 
he  relates,  in  substance,  what  has  been  already  de- 
tailed. 

The  following  extract  will  convey  some  idea  of 
the  views  which  he  entertained  of  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  likewise  of  the  doctrines  which  it  was 
his  purpose,  by  every  means  in  his  power,  to  exhibit 
and  defend. 

"  With  respect  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  I  can 
truly  say,  before  him  to  whom  I  must  give  an  ac- 
count, that  I  desire  not  to  enter  into  it  for  the  sake 
of  filthy  lucre,  to  gain  admiration  or  praise,  or  any 
way  to  bring  ease  to  myself,  but  to  glorify  my  Lord 
and  Master,  and  to  win  souls  to  him.  I  am  consci- 
ous it  is  a  work  of  the  greatest  weight  and  impor- 
tance; but  yet  such  delight  do  I  feel  in  it,  that  I  would 
desire  it  before  any  other  office  under  the  sun.  And 
if  the  Lord  has  given  me  a  small  talent,  it  is  my 
earnest  wish  to  improve  it  for  his  glory,  and  the 
good  of  my  fellow-mortals,  and  ever  to  keep  in  view 
what  the  apostle  has  observed,  c  to  preach  not  myself, 
but  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord.' 

"  With  regard  to  my  sentiments,  I  believe  that 
by  nature  all  men  are  sinners,  that  all  have  fallen 
in  Adam,  that  they  are  obnoxious  to  the  wrath  of 
an  offended  God,  and  have  no  ability  to  save  them- 
selves! That  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  second  per- 
son in  the  adorable  Trinity,  who  is  co-equal  with 
the  Father  and  the  Spirit,  out  of  free  and  unspeaka- 
ble love,  took  upon  himself  the  form  of  a  man,  came 
into  this  world,  suffered,  and  died  for  poor  sinners, 
even  for  those  his  elect;  whom  the  Father  gave  him 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  109 

from  eternity,  and  thereby  exempted  them  from 
the  wrath  of  God,  magnified  his  law,  and  made  it 
honourable,  brought  in  an  everlasting  righteousness, 
bought  a  pardon  for  our  sins,  and  effected  a  com- 
plete and  eternal  salvation  for  us!  I  believe  that  no 
man  in  himself  has  any  free  will  or  power  to  return 
to  God;  that  he  must  be  born  again  by  the  Eternal 
Spirit  before  he  can  love  or  serve  him;  that  all  his 
own  works  are  imperfect,  and  that  he  must  be  justi- 
fied by  free  grace  alone,  according  to  the  idea  of 
the  apostle,  '  By  grace  are  ye  saved  through  faith, 
and  that  not  of  yourselves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God:  not 
of  works,  lest  any  man  should  boast.' 

"  As  to  baptism,  I  would  just  observe,  that  as 
infants  were  admitted  under  the  Old  Testament 
dispensation,  why  should  they  be  refused  under  the 
New?  especially  as  our  Lord  lays  down  no  com- 
mand to  the  contrary,  but  gives  a  charge  to  baptize 
nations,  and  then,  of  course,  infants  must  be  in- 
cluded." 

It  is  a  little  to  be  regretted,  that  neither  in  his 
journal  of  the  period  which  he  spent  at  this  semi- 
nary, nor  in  his  letters  to  his  friends,  has  Mr. 
Buck  given  any  account  of  his  studies,  and  the 
manner  of  employing  his  time.  One  thing,  however, 
of  much  greater  importance,  is  strikingly  evident, 
that  his  classical  pursuits,  and  the  various  tempta- 
tions which  abound  in  the  very  best  regulated  insti- 
tutions of  this  nature,  did  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree diminish  the  seriousness  of  his  spirit,  or  im- 
pair his  devotedness  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the 
welfare  of  immortal  souls. 

K 


110  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

His  numerous  engagements  to  preach  in  very  dis- 
tant places,  and  the  ardour  with  which  he  fulfilled 
them,  must  indeed  have  greatly  impeded  his  progress 
in  learning:  yet  his  subsequent  labours  prove,  that 
notwithstanding  these  disadvantages,  he  must  have 
been  a  diligent  and  persevering  student,  especially  of 
theology.  He  seems  to  have  exhibited  much  of 
Richard  Baxter's  excellent  spirit,  and  to  have  laid 
down  for  himself  the  rule  upon  which  that  venera- 
ble man  declared  he  uniformly  acted. 

"  Necessity  should  be  a  great  disposer  of  a  minis- 
ter's course  of  study  and  labours.  If  we  were  suffi- 
cient for  every  thing,  we  might  fall  upon  every 
thing,  and  take  in  order  the  whole  Encyclopaedia. 
But  life  is  short,  and  eternal  things  are  necessary, 
and  the  souls  that  depend  upon  our  teaching  are 
precious.  I  confess  necessity  has  been  the  conductor 
of  my  studies  and  life;  it  chooseth  what  book  I  shall 
read,  and  tells  me  when  and  how  long;  it  chooseth 
my  text,  and  makes  my  sermon  for  matter  and  man- 
ner." 

Mr.  Buck's  hours  of  leisure  while  at  the  academy 
appear  to  have  been  chiefly  spent  in  writing  his  diary, 
and  in  epistolary  correspondence.  In  the  former  he 
records  his  religious  experience,  and  in  the  latter  he 
enters  more  at  large  into  his  habits  of  thinking,  and 
unfolds  to  his  friends  his  views  and  prospects  in  life. 
—The  most  interesting  parts  of  both  will  fill  up  this 
chasm  in  his  history. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  Ill 

"Saturday,  July  30. — Arrived  safe  at  Bristol  this 
morning,  through  the  great  goodness  of  my  gracious 
Lord.  The  company  in  the  coach  were  agreeable, 
and  the  latter  part  of  our  journey  was  taken  up  in 
religious  conversation.  O!  for  more  knowledge  of 
and  converse  with  him  whom  my  soul  loveth. 

"Sunday,  July  31. — Preached  this  morning  at 
seven  o'clock,  at  the  Tabernacle,  from  Isaiah,  xxiv. 
15.  "Wherefore  glorify  ye  the  Lord  in  the  fires." 
Though  much  unprepared  for  preaching,  I  thank  my 
God  I  experienced  some  degree  of  liberty. — O!  that 
it  may  be  a  savour  of  life  unto  life  to  all  that  heard 
it. 

"  Preached  at  Kingswood  this  morning  and  after- 
noon. My  text  in  the  morning  was  Psalm  lxxxiv. 
11.  and  I  can  say  of  a  truth,  the  Lord  was  with  me. 
In  the  afternoon  preached  from  Rom.ii.  9,  10.;  but, 
O,  what  a  change!  My  Lord  had  hid  his  face,  and 
it  was  all  darkness.  It  was  a  burden  to  me  to  speak, 
and  I  was  glad  when  I  had  concluded  my  sermon. 

0  my  depraved,  cold,  and  indifferent  heart,  how 
subject  to  changes!  O  God,  return  again  to  my  wait- 
ing soul,  that  I  may  be  refreshed. 

"  Tuesday,  August  2. — Heard  several  deliver  their 
experience  at  the  Society  belonging  to  the  Taberna- 
cle, and  trust  it  was  a  profitable  opportunity.  O  that 

1  may  experience  more  of  the  loving-kindness  of  my 
God.  Surely  he  has  done  great  things  for  my  soul, 
whereof  I  am  glad.  May  I  ever  be  sensible  of  his 
kindness,  and  be  grateful  for  the  same.  What  shall 
I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  towards  me? 


112  MEMOIRS  OF  TflE 

- 

"  Wednesday,  August  3 Heard  Rev.  Mr.  Bid- 

dulph  this  morning  at  Mary  Port  Church.  His  text 
was  Jerem.  xxxii.  40. — He  is  a  sweet  and  experi- 
mental preacher. — There  is  nothing  like  entering 
into  the  feelings  of  the  people,  and  speaking  simply 
to  the  heart;  this  sort  of  preaching  generally  is  the 
most  useful,  and  the  most  honoured  by  God.  O  that 
I  may  be  taught  to  declare  the  truth  with  simplici- 
ty and  plainness.  In  the  evening  heard  Mr.  Wills 
at  the  Tabernacle,  from  Rev.  Hi.  18.  It  was  a  search- 
ing sermon.  May  it  tend  to  rouse  the  lukewarm 
professor,  as  well  as  to  excite  the  real  believer  to 
greater  diligence.   Amen. 

"Thursday,  August  4. — Heard  Mr.  Collins  at 
Hope  Chapel,  from  Heb.  ix.  27,  28.  Could  wish 
that  he  preached  with  a  little  more  life  and  anima- 
tion. Surely  the  cause  of  Christ  demands  the  most 
ardent  zeal  and  the  greatest  earnestness.  To  speak 
to  dying  mortals  is  of  the  highest  importance,  and 
therefore  needs  great  faithfulness  and  activity.  The 
Lord  grant  that  I  may  always  speak  with  power, 
and  with  the  Spirit. 

"  Saturday,  August  6. — Was  much  delighted  in 
transcribing  a  most  precious  account  of  a  person  on 
his  dying  bed;  part  of  whose  language  was  this: — "  I 
never  could  have  imagined  or  believed,  that  I  could 
have  felt  the  consolation  I  now  feel,  or  have  met 
death  as  I  now  meet  it;  and  yet  I  see  that  I  am  a 
sink  of  iniquity,  and  that  my  whole  life  has  been 
abominable."  O  what  happy  exits  do  many  of  the 
Lord's  dear  people  make.  My  soul,  startle  not  at 
the  idea  of  death;  Jesus  has  taken  away  the  sting;  so 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  113 

that  he  is  no  longer  a  dreadful  monster,  to  terrify, 
but  a  welcome  servant,  to  introduce  me  to  the  blest 
abodes  of  my  gracious  Redeemer.  May  I  then  sing 
with  the  poet, 

"  Death  cannot  make  my  soul  afraid, 

If  God  be  with  me  there; 
Soft  is  the  passage  th rough  the  shade, 

And  all  the  prospect  fair." 

44  Tuesday,  August  9 Met  the  Society  at  Ta- 
bernacle, when  several  declared  what  wonderful 
things  the  Lord  had  done  for  their  souls,  in  calling 
them  out  of  a  state  of  nature  into  a  state  of  grace, 
and  strengthening  and  comforting  their  souls  in  the 
way  through  the  wilderness.  These  meetings  are 
profitable,  when  conducted  aright,  as  they  tend  to 
establish  the  weak,  and  to  comfort  those  that  mourn. 
O  Lord,  do  thou  teach  me  to  rejoice  with  them 
that  do  rejoice,  and  to  weep  with  them  that  weep, 
while  I  endeavour  through  thy  grace  to  instruct  my 
fellow-pilgrims  in  the  way  to  Zion. 

44  Wednesday,  August  10. — Preached  at  Taber- 
nacle this  evening,  from  Acts,  xxvi.  28.  44  Almost 
thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a  Christian."  Could  not 
speak  with  much  liberty. — How  hard  is  it  to  stand 
up  without  the  light  of  thy  countenance,  O  God! 
Surely  the  work  of  the  ministry  is  no  easy  work!  My 
soul  is  now  under  the  cloud,  and  darkness  pervades 
my  mind.  All  terrestrial  things  appear  insipid,  and 
afford  no  relief  to  my  dejected  soul.  But,  Lord,  wilt 
not  thou  look  upon  me  again?  C)  return,  return,  dear 
Redeemer,  that  I  may  rejoice  in  thy  smiles. 
K2 


114  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

u  Thursday,  August  11. — This  day  I  have  been 
much  dejected;  but  desire  to  remember  what  the 
Psalmist  observes,  "  Unto  the  upright  there  ariseth 
light  in  the  darkness."  The  Lord  is  all-sufficient 
and  gracious,  and  will  not  leave  nor  forsake  his  peo- 
ple. 

*'  O  let  me  then  at  length  be  taught, 
What  still  I  am  so  slow  to  learn, 
That  God  is  love,  and  changes  not, 
Nor  knows  the  shadow  of  a  turn." 

In  the  evening  heard  Mr.  Hezekiah  Jones,  at  Lady 
Huntingdon's  Chapel,  from  Hosea,  ii.  14,  15.  "  I 
will  allure  her,"  &c.  One  of  his  remarks  was  this, 
u  The  Vine  of  our  comfort  is  always  planted  in  the 
valley  of  humiliation."  I  have  reason  to  be  thankful 
for  the  opportunity,  for  the  word  was  sweet  and 
profitable.  O  that  I  may  digest  it  by  faith  and 
prayer,  and  that  the  effect  of  it  may  be  seen  in  my 
life  and  conversation.   Amen. 

u  Saturday,  August  13. — Attended  prayer-meet- 
ing, when  several  prayed  with  much  earnestness.  O 
that  I  could  pray  with  more  fervency;  but,  alas!  it  is 
often  a  burden  to  me.  I  go  to  a  throne  of  grace, 
with  the  same  coldness  as  if  I  were  praying  to  a 
stock  or  a  stone.  And  when  I  do  find  a  little  liberty, 
I  then  forget  to  look  for  answers  to  my  prayers. 
Dear  Lord,  teach  me  to  pray;  help  me  to  supplicate 
thee  with  more  delight  and  joy.  May  it  be  a  sweet 
work  to  my  soul,  and  may  I  consider  it  as  my  great- 
est honour  and  privilege  to  come  before  thee. 

"Saturday,    August    20. — Arrived    at    Bristol, 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  lltf 

much  fatigued.  May  I  be  reminded  that  my  journey 
through  this  wilderness,  though  difficult,  is  short. 
Soon  the  time  will  come,  when  I  shall  be  tired  no 
more,  but  rest  in  the  realms  of  unspeakable  bliss.  O 
gracious  Saviour,  help  me  to  look  forward  with  joy 
and  gratitude  to  that  glorious  day,  when  I  shall  be 
released  from  every  pain,  and  exempt  from  all  sin. 
"  Saturday,  August  27. — Gave  a  word  of  exhor- 
tation at  the  So  iety  at  Tabernacle,  Wotton  Under- 
edge.  May  the  Lord  follow  it  with  his  blessing.  O 
that  I  could  speak  more  experimentally,  more  to  the 
heart  than  I  do.  Lord,  do  thou  teach  me  how  to 
speak,  that  it  may  not  be  to  please  self,  but  to  profit 
souls.  This  is  a  matter  of  great  importance,  and  it  is 
the  desire  of  my  soul  to  be  more  sensible  of  it.  Lord 
grant  it,  for  thy  name's  sake.   Amen. 

"Wednesday,  August  31. — Heard  Mr.  Joss  at 
Bristol  Tabernacle,  on  Isaiah,  xxv.  4.  "  A  refuge 
from  the  storm."  It  was  a  sweet  and  experimental 
discourse.  He  was  led  to  show  the  various  storms 
Christians  met  with  in  their  way  to  heaven,  and 
pointed  them  to  the  only  refuge,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. — My  soul,  fly,  fly  to  him  under  every  dis- 
tress. Make  him  thy  all;  use  him  in  all;  love  him  in 
all,  and  live  to  him  in  all.  Draw  me,  Lord,  and  I 
will  run  after  thee;  speak,  and  I  must  hear. 

"Thursday,  September  1. — "Spent  the  evening 
with  the  Reverend  Mr.  Bishop  and  some  friends. 
O  what  a  privilege  is  it  to  meet  with  those  who  love 
to  converse  about  the  dear  Immanuel!  O  that  I 
could  speak  more  to  his  praise,  but  alas!  my  conver- 
sation is  more  about  earth  than  heaven,  more  on 


116  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

temporal  than  spiritual  things.  The  Lord  give  me  a 
heavenly  mind,  that  it  may  be  always  my  delight  to 
speak  of  heavenly  things. 

"Friday,  September  2. — Through  the  kind  provi- 
dence of  my  God,  I  arrived  safe  in  London.  Bless- 
ed be  his  name,  for  taking  me  out,  and  bringing  me 
in,  and  preserving  me  from  every  evil.  Now  will  I 
raise  my  Ebenezer,  and  say,  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord 
helped  me.  May  his  presence  be  with  me  continual- 
ly in  life  and  in  death,  and  may  I  reign  with  him  in 
the  world  above  to  all  eternitv.   Amen." 


No.  I. 

"  Hoxton,  Nov.  29,  1791. 

"  Dear  Friend — I  suppose  you  think  it  strange 
that  I  have  not  fulfilled  my  promise  sooner.  I  in- 
tended to  have  wrote  before  I  went  to  Bristol;  but 
thinking  I  should  see  you  in  my  way  back  from 
thence,  was  the  occasion  of  my  not  writing.  But, 
however,  I  hope  this  will  find  you  well,  both  in  body 
and  soul.  When  I  recal  to  mind  the  past  friendship 
that  subsisted  between  us,  it  affects  me  much  to 
think  how  lax  we  are  in  our  correspondence  now. 
What  has  been  the  cause  of  the  late  coldness  and  in- 
difference in  my  friend,  I  know  not.  I  remember  the 
time  when  we  took  sweet  counsel  and  walked  to- 
gether in  the  greatest  love  and  unity.  And  I  am 
sure  I  can  take  up  the  words  that  were  applied  to 
Jonathan,  and  say,  "  Very  pleasant  hast  thou  been 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  117 

me;  thy  affection  to  me  was  wonderful."  O  that  I 
had  no  reason  to  think  otherwise  now.  If  I  have 
given  you  any  offence,  be  faithful,  and  tell  me.  If 
not,  how  is  it  that  you  could  pass  by  the  vestry  doory 
and  not  enquire  for  your  friend  (who  I  trust  wishes 
you  the  best  of  blessings)  and  whom  you  had  not 
seen  for  some  time.  But  to  leave  this  subjectr  I  would 
ask  you  how  it  is  with  the  best,  the  immortal  part. 
I  hope  the  gracious  Redeemer  is  more  precious  to 
you  than  ever.  To  keep  up  a  spiritual  correspon- 
dence with  him  is  a  happiness  indeed.  I  trust  your 
worldly  concerns  do  not  slacken  you  in  respect 
to  heavenly  and  eternal  matters.  It  is  an  unspeaka- 
ble mercy,  in  the  midst  of  temporal  affairs,  not  to 
forget  spiritual.  O  that  both  you  and  I  may  be  kept 
near  our  dear  Lord,  and  experience  more  of  the  pow- 
er of  his  grace  in  our  hearts.  We  are  surrounded 
with  enemies,  and  beset  with  snares.  The  world  is 
alluring,  sin  is  opposing,  the  devil  is  deceiving. 
Great  God,  do  thou  preserve  us  from  every  evil; 
grant  that  we  may  endure  unto  the  end,  and  be  saved 
at  last,  through  the  blood  and  righteousness  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  I  now  conclude, 
and  believe  me  ever  to  be, 

"  Your  sincere  friend  and  well  wisher, 

"C,B," 


118  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 

No.  II. 

Mr,  B  Quito  n^  Hillsley,  Gloucestershire, 

"Hoxlon,  16th  Dec.  1791. 

"Dear  Friend— By  a  letter  from  Mr.  Symmons, 
I  had  the  disagreeable  news  of  your  father's  death; 
an  event  which  I  little  expected.  May  it  remind  us 
of  our  dissolution,  and  excite  us  to  be  ready  to  meet 
our  God.  The  loss  of  a  tender  parent  must  indeed 
occasion  no  small  grief;  but  yet  the  sweet  hope  of 
meeting  him  again  in  the  realms  of  bliss,  yields  some 
consolation,  even  in  the  midst  of  sorrow.  O  for  the 
happy  day  when  we  shall  be  called  to  dwell  with 
Jesus.  Why  should  we  tremble  at  the  last  enemy, 
since  he  will  break  the  chain  of  our  mortality,  that 
we  may  fly  to  our  adorable  Redeemer.  What  is 
there  so  desirable,  what  so  satisfactory  here,  that  we 
should  wish  to  stay?  Alas,  all  below  the  skies  is  va- 
nity and  vexation  of  spirit!  Come  then,  my  brother, 
let  us  travel  on  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  living. 
Let  us  anticipate  the  joyful  moment,  when  we  shall 
make  our  exit  from  this  vain  world.  Soon,  very 
soon,  shall  we  reach  the  climes  of  endless  felicity! 
No  loss  of  friends,  no  distress  of  mind,  no  pain  of 
body  there!   Well  may  we  sing,  with  the  poet, 

"  There  shall  we  bathe  our  weary  souls 
la  seas  of  heavenly  rest, 
And  not  a  wave  of  trouble  roll 
Across  our  peaceful  breast." 

"  I  hope  this  bereaving  providence  will  be  sancti* 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  119 

fied  to  you  and  all  the  family.  Your  God  still  lives 
to  bless  you  with  every  spiritual  blessing.  He  will 
gently  lead  you  through  the  rugged  wilderness,  and 
provide  for  and  protect  you  continually.  He  is  bet- 
ter than  ten  fathers,  and  if  he  takes  away  one  com- 
fort, it  is  to  give  you  another.  Confide  in  him  then 
under  every  trial,  "casting  all  your  cares  upon  him, 
for  he  careth  for  you."  That  you  may  ever  enjoy 
much  of  the  light  of  his  countenance,  and  live  to  his 
glory,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of  your  unworthy  bro- 
ther in  the  best  bonds. 

«  C.  B." 


u  Monday,  July  9,  1792. — Attended  the  society 
of  young  persons   at  the   Tabernacle,  Wotton  Un- 
der-edge,  and  spoke   to  them   from  1  Tim.  iv.  12. 
"  Let  no  man  despise  thy  youth,  but  be  thou  an  ex- 
ample of  the  believers,  in  word,  in  conversation,  in 
charity,  in  spirit,  in  faith  and  purity."  Observed  to 
them    how  delightful  it   was   to   see  divine    grace 
stamped  upon  young  minds,  and  how  lovely  to  be- 
hold the  flowers  of  youth,  bending  toward  the  Sun 
of  Righteousness.  Was  led  to  observe  to  them  how 
I  necessary  a  good  example  is,  and  that  it  should  be 
i  their  constant  aim   to   adorn  the  doctrines  of  God 
j  their  Saviour  in  all  things. 

"  Tuesday,   July    10. — Preached  at  the  Baptist 

i  Meeting,   Wotton,  from   Phil.  iv.  4.  "  Rejoice  in 

the  Lord  alway,  and  again  I  say  rejoice."  Endea- 


120  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

voured  to  show  the  motives  believers  have  to  excite 
them  to  rejoice,  and  the  extent  of  this  too  much  ne- 
glected duty,  "  to  rejoice  alway."  Did  not  experi- 
ence much  liberty,  but  hope  it  was  salutary  to  some. 

0  Lord,  the  word  is  thine,  do  thou  prosper  it. 
Thou  knowest  it  is  the  desire  of  my  heart  to  do 
good.  Put  honour,  therefore,  upon  my  unworthy 
ministry,  by  making  me  a  successful  labourer  in 
thy  vineyard.  O  that  I  may  be  the  happy  instrument 
of  converting  souls.  May  it  ever  be  my  aim,  in  my 
conversation,  my  preaching,  and  my  example,  to 
bring  my  fellow  mortals  to  a  participation  of  the 
blessings  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  May  I  ever 
abound  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  knowing  that  my 
labour  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 

"Wednesday,  July  11. — Preached  at  Taber- 
nacle, Wotton,  from  Psalm  xxxvi.  9.  "  For  with 
thee  is  the  fountain  of  life;  in  thy  light-  shall  we  see 
light."  Did  not  experience  much  enlargement  of 
mind,  but  hope  the  word  was  not  preached  in  vain. 

1  wish  ever  to  remember,  that  success  does  not  de- 
pend upon  my  frames;  that  my  usefulness  does  not 
arise  from  any  thing  I  feel  in  my  own  breast,  but 
upon  him  who  hath  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his 
hands.  Were  I  to  use  the  greatest  eloquence,  and 
was  well  versed  in  the  art  of  persuasion,  or  had  I 
the  tongue  of  an  angel,  it  would  all  be  ineffectual 
without  a  divine  power.  He  only  who  made  the 
heart  can  change  it.  It  is  thine,  therefore,  O  Holy 
Spirit,  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind;  it  is  thine  to 
console  the  drooping  heart,  and  revive  the  distressed 
mind;  it  is  thine  to  render  the  word  preached  pro- 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  121 

iitable,  and  to  enable  men  to  receive  and  rejoice  in 
the  truth;  it  is  thine  to  make  the  ministers  of  the 
everlasting  gospel  useful,  to  bless  them  in  their 
work,  to  encourage  them  in  their  difficulties,  and  to 
support  them  in  all  their  afflictions.  May  my  confi- 
dence therefore  be  on  thee  and  thee  alone. 

"  Thursday,  July  12 Preached  at  Union  Cha- 
pel, Uley,  Gloucestershire.  God  grant  good  may  be 
done.  Found  a  degree  of  liberty.  O  it  is  sweet  to 
preach  of  the  love  of  a  dear  Redeemer,  when  under 
the  smiles  of  his  countenance.  Let  the  ignorant 
world  inveigh  against  the  experience  of  his  minis- 
ters and  people,  and  call  it  enthusiasm  if  they 
please.  If  to  be  enabled  to  rejoice  in  Christ  Jesus 
and  have  no  confidence  in  the  flesh  be  enthusiasm, 
may  God  evermore  bless  me  with  it.  Let  true  be- 
lievers be  deemed  as  mad  fanatics,  may  it  be  my 
honour  and  privilege  to  be  one  of  the  despised  num- 
ber. Let  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  be  accounted  as 
religious  mechanics,  to  work  upon  the  minds  of  the 
ignorant,  or  as  those  men  who  are  pests  to  society, 
and  would  turn  the  world  upside  down;  yet  may  I 
be  one,  who  shall  dare  to  be  singular,  and  to  preach 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  with  all  boldness,  in  the 
midst  of  a  crooked  and  perverse  generation. 

"  Friday,  July  13. — Preached  at  Kings  wood, 
Gloucestershire,  on  Zech.  ix.  12.  u  Turn  ye  to  the 
strong  hold,  ye  prisoners  of  hope,  for  even  to-day 
do  I  declare,  that  I  will  render  double  unto  thee." 
The  place  was  much  crowded,  and  the  people  heard 
with  great  attention.  Cannot  help  thinking,  with 
what  plainness  and  simplicity  the  gospel-message 

L 


122  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

ought  to  be  delivered.  Do  I  wish  to  do  good,  let 
me  preach  so  that  the  lowest  capacity  may  compre- 
hend my  meaning,  yea  so  that  all  may  understand. 
But,  alas!  my  foolish  heart  is  often  dictating,  how 
necessary  it  is  to  adorn  the  truth  with  taw4ry  in- 
ventions of  my  own  or  others,  in  order  to  please  the 
fancy  of  the  gay  and  polite,  and  thus  to  endeavour 
to  acquire  popularity.  O  vanity,  vanity!  Is  not  this 
frequently  the  bane  of  usefulness!  O,  my  soul,  be- 
ware of  this  accommodating  art;  for  surely  this  is 
preaching  myself,  and  not  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord. 
Gracious  God,  give  me  a  single  eye  and  a  sincere 
heart,  and  then  will  my  tongue  be  employed  in  the 
best  and  most  unaffected  eloquence,  and  on  the  no- 
blest and  most  sublime  subject,  the  love  of  God  to 
rebellious  man. 

"  Saturday,  July  14. — Was  much  pleased  in 
reading  Mr.  Hervey's  Sermons  on  the  Godhead  of 
Christ,  which  he  clearly  proves,  from  the  works  he 
wrought,  from  the  honours  that  were  paid  him,  and 
from  the  nature  of  his  mediatorial  office.  Blessed 
Jesus,  the  whole  Bible  confirms  thy  divinity,  and 
whoever  reads  it  without  being  convicted  of  this, 
must  undoubtedly  be  blind.  O  help  me  to  proclaim, 
delight  in,  and  defend  this  great  article  of  Christi- 
anity. May  I  adore  thee  as  my  God,  my  friend,  my 
only  Saviour,  and  my  all  in  all.  And  while  the 
giddy  multitude  are  going  about,  and  saying  Who 
will  show  us  any  good;  Lord  lift  thou  up  the  light 
of  thy  countenance  upon  me. 

"  Monday,  July  16.— Met  the  society  of  young 
people  at  Tabernacle,  Wotton.  Expounded   Psalm 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  123 

cxlii.  from  which  I  observed  what  a  tendency  af- 
flictions have  to  lead  the  soul  to  God,  and  that  we 
never  esteem  him  more,  or  pray  to  him  with  such 
great  fervency,  as  when  all  human  helps  fail  us. 
And  O  what  an  unspeakable  mercy,  that  though  we 
are  subject  to  changes  in  ourselves,  and  meet  with 
strange  revolutions  in  the  world,  yet  our  Jesus  is 
invariable,  a  constant  friend,  a  sure  protector,  a  safe 
guide,  a  kind  father,  and  a  faithful  God.  My  soul, 
rest  then  upon  him  alone,  and  let  him  be  thy  de- 
light, thy  all  in  all. 

"  Tuesday,  July  17. — Preached  at  Dursley, 
Gloucestershire,  from  Hebrews,  xii.  IV"  Let  us  run 
with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us."  Was 
rather  low,  and  did  not  experience  much  liberty, 
but  have  reason  to  believe  the  word  was  useful  and 
consolatory  to  some.  O  that  I  could  speak  with 
more  animation,  and  with  a  greater  dependance 
upon  the  Holy  Spirit  for  assistance.  Surely  to  be 
cool  upon  such  topics  as  the  sacred  volume  affords, 
at  once  proves  that  my  heart  is  little  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  the  subject.  O  God,  warm  my 
heart  with  a  sense  of  thy  love,  and  remove  all  su- 
pineness  from  me,  and  let  my  tongue  be  as  the  pen 
of  a  ready  writer  to  declare  thy  truth,  and  speak  of 
thy  goodness  to  the  children  of  men. 

"  Thursday,  July  19. — Preached  at  Hillsley,  from 
Acts,  xv.  36.  "  And  see  how  they  do."  This  being 
the  place  where  I  was  born,  many  attended  from 
motives  of  curiosity.  The  Lord,  I  trust,  was  with 
me.  I  exhorted  them  to  enquire  into  the  state  of 


124  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

their  souls,  and  to  ask  themselves  how  matters 
stood  between  God  and  them.  O  that  God  may  fol- 
low the  word  with  his  blessing,  without  which  it 
will  be  of  no  avail.  O  that  I  had  this  more  in  view. 
Sometimes  I  am  ready  to  think,  when  I  have  been 
enabled  to  preach  with  freedom,  and  to  discuss  my 
subject  with  a  seeming  propriety,  that  then  good 
must  be  done;  but  ah!  it  is  well  for  me  to  recollect, 
that  if  I  could  speak  like  an  angel,  or  if  I  always  en- 
joyed liberty,  it  would  not  be  the  means  of  com- 
forting or  converting  one  soul  without  a  divine  and 
supernatural  power  attending  it. 

"  Saturday,  July  21. — Came  to  Dursley.  This 
day  have  done  little  or  nothing.  May  I  not  say,  "  I 
have  lost  a  day."  How  backward  my  heart  to  me- 
ditation; how  indifferent  about  the  best  things! 
How  unconcerned  about  the  soul!  Lord  have  mercy 
upon  me,  have  mercy  upon  me,  and  pardon  my 
sloth.  I  am  under  ten  thousand  obligations  to  live 
in  thy  fear  all  the  day  long,  and  yet,  alas!  I  have 
hardly  so  much  as  one  spiritual  thought.  O  sin, 
what  hast  thou  done!  Thou  hast  found  me,  O  mine 
enemy,  to  rob  me  of  my  peace,  to  deprive  me  of 
communion  with  my  God,  and  to  cause  me  to  live 
at  a  distance  from  him.  O  cursed  evil,  the  "  fruit- 
ful parent  of  woes  of  ail  dimensions,"  may  I  set  my 
face  against  thee  for  ever,  and  oppose  thee  with  all 
the  powers  of  my  soul,  and  all  the  strength  I  have. 

"  Monday,  July  23 — Preached  at  Uley,  Glouces- 
tershire, from  2  Cor.  xiii.  5,  "  Examine  your- 
selves." Observed,  that  self-examination  is  an  im- 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  125 

portant  duty;  but  too  much  neglected  by  the  majo- 
rity of  professors.  And  I  am  afraid  it  is  really  the 
case.  Thousands  are  at  ease  in  Zion;  have  a  name 
to  live,  while  they  are  dead.  O  let  me  be  faithful 
therefore  in  my  mission,  lest  their  blood  should  be 
required  at  my  hand.  How  careful  should  I  be,  lest 
fear  should  gain  ascendancy  over  me  on  the  one 
hand,  or  interest  should  influence  me  on  the  other. 
Should  I  not  press  this  duty  upon  the  conscience  in 
every  sermon?  What!  shall  I  address  the  fancies  of 
men,  and  endeavour  to  please  their  minds,  instead 
of  profiting  their  hearts?  God  forbid!  May  God  the 
Spirit  grant  that  I  may  deal  much  in  application; 
whether  men  will  hear,  or  whether  they  will  for- 
bear, may  my  constant  language  be  to  all,  "  Ex- 
amine yourselves." 

"  Saturday,  July  28. — Was  profited,  I  trust,  by 
perusing  a  piece  of  the  celebrated  Mr.  Hervey's, 
intitled,  "  Consolation  to  the  Afflicted."  One  of  his 
observations  is  this — "  Perhaps,  you  may  think 
your  affliction  peculiarly  calamitous,  and  that  if  it 
had  been  of  some  other  kind  you  could  more  cheer- 
fully submit,  more  easily  bear  it.  But  you  are  in 
the  hand  of  an  all-wise  Physician,  who  joins  to  the 
bowels  of  infinite  love,  the  discernment  of  infinite 
wisdom.  He  cannot  mistake  your  case.  He  sees  into 
the  remotest  events;  and  though  he  varies  his  re- 
medies, always  prescribes  with  the  exactest  pro- 
priety to  every  one's  particular  state.  Assure  your- 
self, therefore,  the  visitation  which  he  appoints,  is 
the  very  properest  recipe  in  the  dispensatory  of  hea- 
ven." O  that  I  could  realize  this  great  truth,  and 
L2 


126  "memoirs  of  the 

so  to  behold  all  things  with  an  eye  of  faith,  as  to 
know  it  shall  work  together  for  my  good. 

"  Sabbath-day,  July  29. — Preached  twice  at  the 
Tabernacle,  Bristol.  The  congregation  large  and  at- 
tentive. O  that  I  may  have  some  seals  to  my  minis- 
try here.  It  is  my  comfort  that  the  Lord  can  bless 
the  weakest  instruments.  The  treasure  is  put  into 
earthen  vessels,  that  the  excellency  of  the  power 
may  appear  to  be  of  God,  and  not  of  men. 

"  Was  comforted  in  attending  the  ordinance  of 
the  Lord's  Supper.  O  blessed  Jesus,  help  me  to 
live  by  faith  upon  thee,  to  eat  of  thee,  the  living 
bread,  that  my  soul  may  be  replenished,  and  my 
heart  animated.  O  let  me  recollect  the  love  of  a 
groaning,  bleeding,  dying  Saviour;  let  me  consider 
his  unbounded  compassion,  to  give  even  himself  for 
men,  that  they  might  live  for  ever  with  him.  O  let 
my  right  hand  forget  her  cunning,  when  I  forget  this 
thy  love,  O  thou  adorable  Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh 
away  the  sin  of  the  world. 

"  Tuesday,  July  31. — Heard  Mr.  Ford,  at  Lady 
Huntingdon's  Chapel,  Bristol.  His  text  was  Pro- 
verbs, x.  24.  u  The  desire  of  the  righteous  shall 
be  granted."  He  made  an  experimental,  and,  I 
trust,  profitable  discourse.  Experimental  preaching 
seems  most  likely  to  do  good.  To  speak  from  the 
heart  is  the  best  way  to  speak  to  the  heart.  And  let 
me  remember,  that  to  be  useful  to  others,  I  must 
feel  something  myself.  I  must  expect  to  be  afflicted, 
in  order  to  strengthen  the  afflicted.  I  must  expect 
to  be  tempted,  in  order  to  succour  the  tempted.  I 
must  expect  to  be  persecuted^  in  order  to  encourage 


HEV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  127 

the  persecuted.  I  must  expect  to  be  tried,  in  order 
to  comfort  the  tried.  O  what  has  a  real  minister  of 
God  to  do,  to  suffer,  to  bear,  that  he  may  be  an  in- 
strument of  doing  good!  But,  O  my  soul,  despair 
not;  Jesus  is  sufficient;  he  will  strengthen  my 
hands,  he  will  instruct  my  soul,  he  will  grant  my  de- 
sires! 

"Wednesday,  August  1. — Heard  Mr.  Wills,  at 
Tabernacle,  on  Proverbs,  ii.  4,  5.  "  If  thou  seekest 
her  as  silver,  and  searchest  for  her  as  for  hid  trea- 
sures; then  shalt  thou  understand  the  fear  of  the 
Lord,  and  find  the  knowledge  of  God.n  The  Lord 
be  praised  that  there  are  some  who  faithfully  bear 
testimony  of  and  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus!  Who 
can  help  saying,  Lord,,  send  more  such  into  thy 
vineyard.  O  that  ministers  in  general  were  more 
zealous  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  more  desirous  to 
bring  souls  to  him  than  they  are!  But,  alas,  how 
many  are  preaching  themselves,  endeavouring  to 
display  their  abilities,  to  please  their  auditories^ 
without  ever  remembering  that  the  great  end  of  the 
gospel  ministry  is  to  make  men  wise  unto  salvation* 
O  God,  suffer  me  never  to  be  a  minister,  if  I  am 
not  a  faithful  one.  Amen. 

"Monday,  August  6. — Heard  Mr.  Kestell,  at 
Tabernacle,  on  Heb.  vi.  17,  18.  He  appears  to  be  a 
sincere  man,  and  a  plain  simple  preacher.  It  would 
be  well  if  the  truth  were  preached  with  more  simpli- 
city than  it  is.  Surely  ministers  cannot  be  too  plain 
in  their  address  to  ignorant,  obdurate  sinners. 
The  generality  of  congregations  consist  of  poor  illi- 
terate people,  and  therefore  stand  in  need  of  simple 


128  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

teaching.  O  Lord,  do  thou  be  my  instructor,  let  me 
never  speak,  but  that  the  most  ignorant  may  under- 
stand, and  be  profited.  For  what  is  the  end  of 
preaching  the  gospel,  but  that  people  may  be  bene- 
fited. While  I  therefore  on  the  one  hand  beware  of 
all  low  similies  and  disgustful  language,  may  I  on 
the  other  be  careful  to  speak  so  that  the  lowest  ca- 
pacity may  comprehend. 

"  Wednesday,  August  8. — Heard  Mr,  Scott 
preach  at  Tabernacle,  on-Galatians,  ii.  19,  20.  "  I, 
through  the  law,  am  dead  to  the  law,"  &c.  &c.  One 
of  his  remarks  was,  that  those  who  do  not  zvish  to 
have  the  law  as  a  rule  of  life,  have  no  rule  for  their 
lives,  or  to  that  effect.  Many,  I  believe,  found  it 
good  to  be  there.  O  that  I  could  but  receive  more 
comfort  in  attending  public  ordinances;  but,  alas, 
how  cold  is  my  frame,  how  stupid  my  heart!  I  see 
others  rejoicing  and  thankful;  but  as  for  myself, 
how  frequently  am  I  dejected.  I  lose  sight  of  the 
grand  object,  Jesus  Christ.  My  thoughts  are  roving 
upon  the  vanities  of  the  world,  when  I  ought  to  be 
reflecting  upon  the  goodness  of  God;  my  heart  is 
wandering  when  I  ought  to  be  praying,  and  I  am 
often  repining  when  I  should  be  praising.  Behold  I 
am  vile,  and  my  soul  is  little  attached  to  the  dear 
Redeemer.  O  Holy  Spirit,  descend,  and  let  me  be 
no  longer  cleaving  to  the  dust,  but  with  joy  and 
patience  run  the  way  of  thy  commandment. 

"Thursday,  August  9. — Heard  Mr.  Hay,  at 
Temple  Chapel,  on  John,  xv.  5.  "  I  am  the  vine, 
ye  are  the  branches;  he  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in 
him,  the  same  bringeth  forth  much  fruit,  for  with- 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  129 

out  me  ye  can  do  nothing."  He  made  some  pithy 
remarks,  and  dwelt  much  on  the  applicatory  part.  It 
would  be  well  if  ministers  in  general  would  be  more 
close  in  their  application;  and  come  to  the  point,  by 
speaking  faithfully  to  the  conscience.  A  fine  style 
may  be  pleasing,  but  a  plain  style  is  most  profitable. 
Ministers  should  learn  to  speak  in  a  familiar  way, 
and  that  without  degenerating  into  loose,  extrava- 
gant, and  low  expressions.  O  my  soul,  let  it  be  thy 
business  to  imitate  him  who  was  the  best  preacher 
that  ever  spoke,  even  that  adorable  Jesus  who  went 
about  doing  good. 

"  Friday,   August   10 Heard    Mr.    Wills,    at 

Tabernacle,  on  Isaiah,  liii.  11.  "By  his  knowledge 
shall  my  righteous  servant  justify  many."  He  first 
spake  upon  justification;  2d,  The  person  justified,, 
righteous  servant;"  3d,  Those  that  were  justifying 
many;"  4th,  How  they  were  justified,  "  by  his 
knowledge."  The  discourse  was  good,  and  I  hope 
blessed  to  the  hearers.  O  that  I  may  benefit  more 
by  hearing.  I  wish  to  enjoy  the  comfort  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel.  God  grant  that  I  may  feel  more 
of  their  power  upon  my  heart;  for  what  will  think- 
g,  what  will  hearing,  what  will  preaching,  what 
ill  talking  of  them  avail,  if  I  do  not  experience 
their  blessedness?  Come,  therefore,  O  Lord,  and 
bless  me  with  an  experimental  knowledge  of  the 
truths  of  the  everlasting  gospel. 

"  Sabbath-day,  August  12. — Preached  at  Taber- 
nacle this  morning  from  Hebrews,  xi.  24,  25,  26* 
u  By  faith,  Moses,  when  he  was  come  to  years,  re- 
fused to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter," 


130  me'moirs  of  the 

&c.  &c.  O  that  God  may  bless  me  with  Moses's 
faith,  and  then  I  shall  have  Moses's  obedience. 
Heard  Mr.  Scott  preach  at  Kingswood  in  the 
morning,  from  Isaiah,  xli.  17 — 20.  I  preached  there 
in  the  afternoon,  and  blessed  be  God,  found  a  little 
freedom.  In  the  evening,  heard  Mr.  Wills,  at 
Tabernacle,  on  Matt,  xxviii.  5.  and  afterwards 
heard  Mr.  Hill  preach,  out  of  doors,  at  Points-pool, 
to  a  very  large  auditory,  on  Acts,  xvi.  30,  31.  One 
of  his  remarks  was,  "  Hate  the  devil  for  he  hates 
you;  there  is  no  harm  in  that  revenge."  It  was  a 
blessed  time,  I  believe,  to  many.  God  put  shonour 
upon  out  of  door  preaching,  and  perhaps  as  many 
have  been  called  that  way  as  any.  O  God,  increase 
the  number  of  those  that  shall  go  forth  with  all 
boldness  to  speak  thy  word.  Amen. 

"Wednesday,  August  15.— Received  an  unex- 
pected hint  from  a  friend,  and  though  not  agreeable 
to  my  feelings,  may  God  make  it  profitable  to  my 
heart.  Perhaps  it  is  a  message  from  him  to  draw  me 
nearer  to  himself.  Many  a  time  hath  he  spoken  to 
me;  but  yet  have  I  refused  to  attend  to  his  voice. 
I  do,  I  know  I  do  live  at  too  great  a  distance  from 
him,  therefore  "  let  the  righteous  smite  me,  it  shall 
be  esteemed  a  kindness;  and  let  him  reprove  me,  it 
shall  be  an  excellent  oil,  which  shall  not  break  my 
head;  for  yet  my  prayer  shall  also  be  in  their  calami- 
ties." O  ray  God,  help  me  to  take  every  thing  pa- 
tiently that  shall  be  for  my  profit.  Why  should  I 
complain,  or  who  am  I,  that  I  should  ever  be 
brought  to  know  thee,  and  to  be  honoured  with  the 
acquaintance  of  thy  dear  people.  And  why  is  it* 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  131 

that  such  a  depraved  creature   is  not  cast  out  from 
thy  presence,  to   dwell   in   darkness  for  ever   and 


!« 


ever: 


At  the  close  of  the  Diary  of  this  period,  Mr. 
Buck  inserted  a  collection  of  pithy  and  useful  re- 
marks, some  of  which  may  not  be  unacceptable  in 
this  place. 

"  Lightness  of  spirit  sometimes  brings  darkness 
of  soul. 

"  Sin  is  the  most  dreadful  monster  that  walks  the 
earth,  but  least  suspected. 

"  God  sends  the  weight  of  affliction  to  suppress 
the  weed  of  pride. 

"  Great  talkers  are  sometimes  loose  walkers. 
"  We  often   meet   our   greatest   trials  from  our 
greatest  friends. 

"  We  cannot  pluck  a  rose  without  a  thorn,  a 
comfort  without  a  cross,  a  sweet  without  a  bitter: 
we  cannot  have  a  friend,  without  an  enemy,  while 
in  this  vale  of  tears. 

"  We  should  think  it  strange  for  a  man  to  choose 
to  live  in  a  dissecting  room,  or  among  dead  bodies; 
and  it  would  appear  equally  strange  for  a  good  man 
to  delight  to  live  with  those  who  are  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins. 

"  Were  we  to  run  a  race,  and  a  man  were  to  be 
pulling  us  by  the  coat  all  the  way,  it  would  retard 
our  progress,  so  it  is  the  same  by  keeping  company 
with  the  world;  they  hinder  us  from  pressing  to- 
ward the  mark  set  before  us. 


132  Memoirs  of  the 

"  As  a  man  cannot  rest  quietly  when  he  knows 
thieves  are  in  his  house;  so  a  good  conscience  will 
not  rest  if  sin  is  in  the  heart. 

"  A  good  conscience  is  a  servant  that  will  keep 
(the  house)  the  heart  clean. 

"  The  devil  will  always  be  playing  his  engine  of 
malice,  &c.  to  put  out  the  fire  of  our  love,  but  bless- 
ed be  God,  it  will  be  always  in  vain. 

"  How  inconsistent  would  it  appear,  if  we  had 
incurred  the  displeasure  of  his  Majesty,  to  think  of 
appeasing  his  wrath  by  a  small  gift,  or  worthless  of- 
fering; but  how  much  more  inconsistent  for  us  to 
be  offering  our  works  to  God  (which  are  called  fil- 
thy rags)  as  the  foundation  of  our  acceptance,  and 
to  satisfy  his  justice. 

"  It  proves  there  is  something  wrong  in  our  life 
and  conversation,  when  it  will  not  bear  reflection. 

"  Instead  of  coming  more  out  of  self,  and  getting 
into  Christ,  alas!  we  get  more  out  of  Christ,  and 
more  into  self. 

**  Time  is  the  boat  that  is  carrying  us  swiftly  into 
the  ocean  of  eternity. 

"  What  a  mercy,  to  have  a  good  hope  in  a  bad 
time. 

"  A  man  may  talk  like  an  angel  and  act  like  a 
devil. 

"  There  is  no  glory  in  our  hope,  if  Christ  is  not 
the  hope  of  our  glory. 

"  Faith  is  a  self  applier. 

"  The  anticipation  of  the  glories  of  the  world 
above  should  stimulate  us  to  duty  and  diligence  in 
the  world  below. 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  133 

"  As  gratitude  is  one  of  the  first  of  graces,  so  in- 
gratitude is  one  of  the  worst  of  sins. 

"  Christians  should  look  back  to  the  fall  by  way 
of  humiliation,  and  look  forwards  to  glory  by  way 
of  consolation. 

"  It  is  true  Christ  can  do  any  thing  without  us, 
but  we  should  remember  we  can  do  nothing  without 
him.   John  xv.  5. 

"  The  flower  of  youth  never  appears  more  beau- 
tiful than  when  it  bends  towards  the  Sun  of  Righte- 
ousness. 

"  Though  God  may  seem  to  frown  in  his  provi- 
dences, yet  he  always  smiles  in  his  promises. 

u  As  sin  is  the  worst  of  diseases,  it  must  have  the 
best  of  Physicians  to  cure  it. 

"  When  we  give  wray  to  sin,  we  put  a  sword  into 
the  enemy's  hand  to  fight  against  us. 

"  One  unguarded  step  of  a  believer  perhaps  may 
lay  a  foundation  for  his  future  uneasiness,  even  to 
the  end  of  life. 

"  Daniel  thought  it  better  to  die  in  a  den  and  go 
j  to  heaven,  than  live  in  a  palace  and  go  to  hell. 

u  We  cannot  fully  comprehend  the  dreadful  na- 
ture of  sin,  because  we  cannot  comprehend  the 
greatness  of  the  object  against  whom  we  sin;  as  sin 
is  aggravating  in  proportion  to  the  dignity  of  the 
object  we  sin  against. 

*•  O  the  condescension  of  Christ!  He  was  born  of 
a  woman  that  we  might  be  born  of  God. 

"  How  humiliating  is  the  character  given  to  man; 
— he  is  dust.  What  is  the  rich  man  but  dust  exalt- 
ed; what  is  the  gay  man  but  du6t  disguised;  what  is 

M 


134  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

the  worldling  but  dust  depraved;  what  the  beautiful 
but  dust  refined ! 

"  Christ's  grace  and  righteousness  are  the  only 
keys  that  can  open  the  gate  of  heaven;  yet  how  do 
many  attempt  to  open  that  gate  by  the  keys  of  their 
own  works  and  resolutions. 

"  We  often  pray  to  God  that  we  may  be  humble, 
but  we  do  not  like  the  measures  he  takes  to  make 
us  so. 

"  The  hearts  of  God's  people  are  sometimes  good 
books,  for  a  minister  to  read;  and  good  texts  for 
him  to  preach  upon. 

"  Though  there  may  be  such  a  thing  as  know- 
ledge without  grace,  yet  there  is  no  grace  without 
knowledge. 

"Those  who  pray  most  for  their  ministers,  may 
expect  to  have  most  from  their  ministers. 

"  We  all  ought  to  endeavour  to  be  useful  in  our 
place.  Those  who  cannot  speak  for  God  to  sinners, 
should  speak  to  God  for  sinners. 

u  Though  God's  eye  be  upon  all  the  world,  yet 
his  heart  only  is  upon  his  church. 

"  As  unbelief  is  the  worst  of  evils,  so  believing  is 
the  greatest  of  graces. 

"  When  the  world  solicits  us  to  spend  our  time 
in  the  pursuit  of  their  pleasures,  let  us  tell  them 
that  we  have  but  one  life,  and  even  that  is  a  short 
one;  and  therefore  we  cannot  spare  time  to  do  as 
they  do. 

"  When  we  look  back  upon  the  book  of  our  past 
lives,  we  shall  see  a  great  many  blank  leaves  there, 
and  many  on  which  the  most  trifling  things  are  writ- 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  135 

No.  III. 

Hoxton,  30th  Jan.  1792. 

"  Dear  C ,  In  my  last,  I  believe,  I  promised 

to  write  soon,  but  having  been  so  much  engaged 
lately,  I  have  failed  to  fulfil  my  promise.  I  am  at 
present  quite  indisposed,  through  a  pain  in  my 
breast.  The  last  evening  I  preached  at  Silver  Street 
Chapel,  but  it  was  with  difficulty  I  got  through  the 
service.  O  when  will  that  happy  day  arrive,  when  I 
shall  be  released  from  all  pain,  when  this  frail  taber- 
nacle of  mine  must  be  taken  down?  The  pins  there- 
of are  already  loose,  and  I  often  think  it  will  not  be 
long  before  I  shall  be  brought  to  the  houie  appoint- 
ed for  all  living.  Blessed  be  God,  I  cannot  say  the 
fear  of  death  much  distresses  me.  O  that  I  may 
be  more  and  more  prepared  for  it.  Gracious  Re- 
deemer! let  me  live  to  thy  glory  while  I  do  live,  and 
when  I  die  may  I  enter  into  thy  joy:  yet  help  me 
to  say  with  thy  servant,  "  All  the  days  of  my  ap- 
pointed time  will  I  wait,  till  my  change  come.  May 
I  not  murmur  though  I  mourn,  but  patiently  en- 
dure, ever  remembering  to  keep 

"  One  eye  on  death,  and  one  full  fix'd  on  heaven." 

"  I  hope  you,  my  dear  brother,  find  the  work  of 
the  Lord  pleasant:  he  is  a  gracious  Master  to  work 
for,  and  his  faithful  ministers  ever  lay  near  his 
heart.  For  my  own  part,  I  am  ashamed  when  I 
consider  how  little  I  speak  of,  for,  or  to  him.  O  that 
I  may  be   more  diligent,  always  abounding  in  the 


136  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

work  of  the  Lord;  yea,  I  earnestly  pray  that  both 
of  us  may  prove  zealous  and  successful  messengers 
of  the  everlasting  Gospel.  I  must  now  conclude, 
wishing  you  much  of  our  Lord's  presence,  and  a 
safe  journey  to  town,  where  I  trust  we  shall  have  a 
happy  interview. 

u  I  am,  my  dear  Brother, 

"  Your's  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  IV. 

"  Hoxton,  31st  January,  1792. 

"  Dear  Friend — Notwithstanding  I  am  much  in- 
disposed, through  a  return  of  my  old  complaint,  yet 
I  gladly  embrace  the  opportunity  of  sending  you  a 
few  lines.  I  was  particularly  happy  the  other  even- 
ing in  hearing  of  the  Lord's  gracious  dealings 
with  my  brethren,  and  was  exceedingly  charm- 
ed and  edified  by  the  heavenly  eloquence  and  pious 
breathings  of  a  female  orator.  My  soul  was  filled 
with  a  delightful  wonder,  and  I  was  transported  in 
a  moment,  as  it  were,  to  the  celestial  regions!  Sure- 
ly who  could  but  feel,  who  could  but  rejoice,  who 
could  but  be  grateful,  on  hearing  the  genuine  expe- 
rience of  a  heaven-born  soul?  I  am  aware  that 
meetings  of  this  kind  are  censured,  and  that  by  ma- 
ny well-meaning  people,  who  tell  us,  that  in  the  re- 
lation of  our  experience  we  give  way  to  flights  of 
fancy,  and  are  strongly  led  by  a  spirit  of  enthusi- 
asm. But,  if  to  declare  the  loving-kindness  of  the 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  137 

Lord;  if  to  glory  in  him  as  the  only  Saviour;  if  to 
give  thanks  for  unmerited  favours,  if  to  call  to  mind 
his  past  dealings,  if  to  supplicate  for  more  grace,  if 
to  rejoice  in  him  with  a  joy  unspeakable,  be  enthu- 
siasm, then  let  me  have  the  honour  of  being  such  an 
enthusiast. 

u  I  hope  you  are  yet  soaring  above  all  sublunary 
things,  and  growing  in  all  the  graces  of  the  Eternal 
Spirit.  I  know  you  are  subject  to  many  bodily  pains; 
but  blessed  be  God,  that  cannot  hinder  the  prosperity 
of  the  soul.  Afflictions  of  other  kinds  you  may  not 
be  exempt  from,  and  indeed  when  they  are  sancti- 
fied, they  prove  salutary  lessons.  "  And  (says  one) 
suppose  the  furnace  be  seven  times  hotter,  it  is  but 
to  make  us  seven  times  better.  Fiery  trials  make 
golden  Christians."  And  how  can  it  be  otherwise, 
when  the  Lord  himself  has  promised  to  be  with  us. 
How  sweet  those  words,  "  When  thou  passest 
through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee,  and  through 
the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee;  when  thou 
walkest  through  the  fire  thou  shalt  not  be  burnt, 
neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee."  O  that 
this  gracious  promise  may  be  applied  by  the  blessed 
Spirit  to  us,  so  that  our  spiritual  strength  may  be  re- 
newed, and  our  hearts  enlarged,  to  run  the  way  of 
his  commandments;  and  soon,  very  soon,  the  time 
will  come,  when  we  shall  be  called  from  all  weari- 
ness to  rest,  from  pain  to  pleasure,  from  darkness 
to  everlasting  light.  We  now  see  through  a  glass 
darkly,  but  then  face  to  face.  Ephrairn  will  then  no 
more  offend  his  gracious  Father,  but  be  a  pleasant 
M  2 


138  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

son,  a  child  of  delight  to  all  eternity.  Jer.  xxxi.  20. 
— Well  may  we  sing,  therefore,  with  the  poet, 

"  When  shall  the  time,  dear  Jesus,  when 
The  shining  day  appear, 
That  we  shaH  leave  these  clouds  of  sin, 
And  guilt  and  darkness  here." 

Watts. 


That  we  may  be  safely  brought  to  that  glorious  in- 
heritance which  is  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that 
fadeth  not  away,  is  my  earnest  prayer. 
"  I  am,  my  dear  friend, 

11  Your's  most  affectionately, 

«C.  B." 


No.  V. 

"  lfth  Feb.  1792. 

"  Dear  Friend — With  great  and  unexpected 
pleasure  I  received  your  kind  letter,  and  am  happy 
to  find  that  the  Lord's  work  prospers  in  your  hand. 
To  be  engaged  in  the  service  of  Jesus,  to  be  made 
instrumental  in  doing  good  in  his  cause,  is  indeed 
no  small  honour.  It  is  true  that  the  work  which  both 
you  and  I  have  set  our  hands  to,  is  of  the  most  ar- 
duous nature,  and  which  no  man  can  be  sustained 
under,  but  by  a  divine  power.  We  need  as  it  were 
the  wisdom  of  an  angel  to  discuss  the  important 
topics  held  forth  in  God's  sacred  word;  or  rather, 
shall  I  say,  we  stand  in  need  of  the  continual  teach- 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  139 

ings  of  the  Eternal  Spirit,  lest  we  should  be  the  un- 
happy instruments  of  distressing  or  deceiving  the 
immortal  souls  of  our  fellow  creatures.  We  must  go 
forth,  therefore,  with  an  humble  dependence  on  him, 
constantly  imploring  his  gracious  assistance,  that  we 
may  be  enabled  to  speak  his  word  with  all  faithful- 
ness and  simplicity  on  the  one  hand,  and  all  love 
and  humility  on  the  other.  The  time  is  short;  it  is 
incumbent  on  us  to  be  diligent,  to  embrace  every  op- 
portunity of  doing  good,  for  u  blessed  are  they  that 
sow  beside  all  waters."  Difficulties  we  must  expect 
to  meet  with,  but  let  us  take  care  that  they  do  not 
hinder  our  progress.  I  admire  the  conduct  of  the 
two  apostles  (see  Acts,  v.  41,  42.)  who,  though  they 
were  greatly  opposed  for  the  sake  of  their  Master, 
yet  they  persevered  in  their  work.  We  are  told  that 
they  departed  from  the  presence  of  the  council,  re- 
joicing that  they  were  counted  worthy  to  suiFer 
shame  for  his  name;  and  daily  in  the  temple,  and  in 
every  house,  they  ceased  not  to  teach  and  preach  Je- 
sus Christ.  O  zealous  and  honoured  servants  of  the 
Most  High  God,  may  I  and  all  the  ministers  of  the 
everlasting  gospel  be  blessed  with  such  a  fervent 
spirit,  and  never  fail  to  recommend  the  boundless 
love  and  free  grace  of  a  dear  Redeemer  to  dying 
mortals.  I  suppose  you  are  acquainted  with  my  pre- 
sent situation.  Blessed  be  God,  I  find  things  com- 
fortable, and  can  safely  say,  that  while  I  am.  acquir- 
ing human  literature,  it  is  also  the  desire  of  my  soul 
to  be  under  the  guidance  and  tuition  of  my  gracious 
Lord,  so  that  I  may  be  more  and  more  growing  in 
the  knowledge  of  divine  things.  But  alas!  I  am  a 


140  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

dull  scholar,  and  have  made  no  proficiency  in  hea- 
venly subjects  as  I  ought.  What  pride,  what  self, 
what  vanity  still  remains!  O  blessed  Jesus,  teach  me 
to  deny  myself  more,  and  follow  thee  in  sincerity 
and  truth. 

But  I  must  now  conclude,  though  I  would  not 
forget  to  congratulate  you  on  your  usefulness  in  the 
Lord's  vineyard.  May  you  still  be  made  more  use- 
ful, and  may  the  dear  Redeemer  keep  you  as  the 
apple  of  his  eye,  and  hide  you  under  the  shadow  of 
his  wings  continually.   Amen. 

u  I  remain  your's  affectionately, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  VI. 

To  Mr,  C ,  Petwortli,  Sussex. 

"  Hoxton,  18th  April,  1792. 
"My  Dear  C. — Your  epistle  I  received  on  the 
29th  March  last,  and  find  you  have  been  much  em- 
ployed since  you  left  town.  I  hope  it  will  tend  to 
some  great  effect;  even  to  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
and  edification  of  saints.  If  this  be  the  case,  you  will 
then  have  to  be  thankful  that  Providence  hath  led 
you  into  that  dark  part  of  the  country,  and  will  be 
no  small  encouragement  for  you  to  proceed  in  the 
work.  The  opposition  you  have  met  with,  I  trust, 
will  prove  more  beneficial  than  hurtful;  inasmuch  as 
it  will  excite  you  to  fly  to  a  throne  of  grace  with 
greater  earnestness.  Be  careful  then  for  nothing;  but 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  141 

in  every  thing,  by  prayer  and  supplication,  making 
your  requests  known  unto  God.  And  you  know  who 
hath  said,  '  I  will  never  leave  thee,  no  never  forsake 
thee.' 

"  Nothing  particular  hath  transpired  respecting 
the  circumstance  of  which  we  were  talking  before 
you  left  London.  O  for  submission  to  the  will  of  my 
heavenly  Father;  I  know  he  will  do  all  things  well. 
I  desire,  therefore,  to  commit  all  my  cares  to  him, 
to  repose  ail  my  confidence  in  him,  and  ever  to  be 
directed  by  him;  but  yet  I  have  much  to  mourn  for, 
when  I  consider  the  perverseness,  vanity,  and  de- 
pravity of  my  own  volatile  heart.  This  is  my  great- 
>t  perplexity.  I  perceive  no  growth  in  spiritual 
lings;  yea,  often  am  led  to  conclude  the  contrary; 
that  I  am  ready  to  say, 

"  Where  is  the  blessedness  I  knew, 
When  first  I  saw  the  Lord? 
Where  is  the  soul-refreshing  view 
Of  Jesus  in  his  word?" 

"  Ah,  my  dear  brother,  when  I  reflect  on  the  time 
latis  past,  it  creates  a  kind  of  painful  pleasure  in 
my  breast.  With  what  delight  did  I  fly  with  my 
friend  to  the  ordinances  of  God,  and  what  sweet 
communion  did  we  enjoy;  how  animated  the  heart, 
how  alive  the  affections,  and  how  profitable  the  con- 
versation! Can  I  forget  these  golden  moments,  these 
precious  seasons?  No,  I  cannot — they  will  ever  live 
in  my  remembrance.  But,  however,  I  will  not  mur- 
mur, but  endeavour  to  wait  patiently  at  the  feet  of 
my  gracious  Saviour;  and  who  knows  but  I  may  yet 


142  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

dwell  under  his  auspicious  smiles,  and  rejoice  in  him 
with  a  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  O  intreat 
him  that  I  may  be  kept  near  to  his  blessed  self,  and 
at  last  join  the  celestial  choir,  in  singing  his  praises 
for  ever  and  ever, 

u  I  remain,  my  dear  Brother, 
"  Your's  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  VII. 

"  Wotton  Under-edge,  7th  July,  1792. 
»-»'■■■  '  "  With  pleasure  I  sit  down  to  perform  my 
promise  mentioned  in  my  last.  I  think  I  am  much 
better  in  health  than  when  in  town;  the  air  is  salu- 
brious, and  the  country  is  pleasant.  I  hope,  through 
the  divine  blessing,  I  shall  increase  in  strength,  so 
as  to  be  able  to  work  a  little  in  my  Master's  vine- 
yard. Every  thing  here  bears  a  pleasing  aspect;  the 
fields  are  clothed  in  living  green,  the  trees  are  load- 
ed with  fruit,  the  flowers  send  forth  their  sweet  fra- 
grance, and  all  nature  seems  to  laugh  and  sing, 
while  she  declares  the  glory  of  him  who  is  the  great 
Author  of  all.  Should  not  this,  my  dear  friend, 
teach  us  some  useful  lesson?  What  an  emblem  is  it 
of  that  sweet  state  we  experience  when  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness  arises  in  our  minds;  then  the  dark 
wintry  clouds  of  unbelief  and  sorrow  are  removed, 
the  sweet  flowers  (our  graces)  begin  to  revive  and 
flourish,  and  our  hearts  are  animated  with  the 
charming  prospect  of  him  who  is  altogether  lovely 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  143 

and  the  chief  among  ten  thousand.  O,  sweet  sum- 
mer this!  Let  the  ungodly,  the  worldling,  rejoice  in 
their  vanities;  we  glory  in  realities.  Our  pleasures 
are  not  delusive,  but  permanent.  To  experience  the 
light  of  the  dear  Redeemer's  countenance  shining 
upon  our  souls  is  heaven  indeed.  To  know  our  sins 
are  pardoned,  to  be  assured  of  our  interest  in  him. 

0  what  happiness!  O  blessed  Jesus,  let  us  ever 
dwell  near  to  thee,  and  let  our  souls  be  continually 
satiated  with  thy  loving-kindness.  But  perhaps  my 
friend  is  mourning  on  account  of  the  hardness  of 
his  heart,  and  lamenting  that  his  faith  is  so  little  in 
exercise,  and  his  love  so  languid.  What  advice  can 

1  give?  What  can  I  recommend  better  than  to  keep 
looking  to  Jesus.  The  reason  of  all  our  perplexities, 
doubts,  and  fears,  arises  from  our  being  so  lax  in 
this  duty.  In  proportion  as  we  live  and  walk  by 
faith,  so  will  our  comforts  abound.  When  the  eye 
is  fixed  upon  any  other  object  but  Christ,  what  can 
we  expect  but  that  darkness  and  sorrow  will  ensue. 
O  let  us,  therefore,  remember  the  Psalmist,  and 
endeavour  to  imitate  him  when  he  said,  "  My  soul, 
wait  thou  upon  God,  for  my  expectation  is  from 
him."  I  have  had  an  interview  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
English,  whom  perhaps  you  have  heard,  as  he 
preaches  sometimes  at  Surry  Chapel.  He  seems  to 
be  a  spiritual  man.  It  is  pleasing  to  see  ministers 
of  the  gospel  appear  as  such  when  they  are  out  of 
the  pulpit,  as  well  as  when  they  are  in.  I  wish  there 
was  more  of  this.  Ministers  too  often  forget  them- 
selves when  they  have  done  preaching,  as  if  all 
their  work  consisted  in  that;  whereas,  it  is  their  bu- 


144  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

siness  to  preach  privately  as  well  as  publicly.  I  love 
to  see  religion  brought  into  the  parlour;  for  surely 
it  will  be  of  no  great  effect,  if  it  is  to  be  confined  to 
the  church  or  meeting  only.  O,  may  God  grant  that 
I  may  never  be  ashamed  to  make  him  the  subject 
matter  of  my  conversation  wherever  I  have  the  op- 
portunity. Surely  it  cannot  be  unprofitable  (and  can 
it  be  unpolite)  to  discourse  on  his  amazing  com- 
passion, boundless  love,  unspeakable  condescension, 
and  infinite  goodness  to  sinful  creatures?  May  he 
ever  be  my  all  in  life,  in  death,  and  through  eter- 
nity. I  ask  no  more.  Amen. 

"  I  remain  yours  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  B.» 


No.  VIII. 

To  his  Sister, 
"  Wotton  Under-edge,  11th  July,  1792. 

"  With  pleasure  I  inform  you  that  I  am  much 
better  than  when  in  town.  The  country  air  is  very 
conducive  to  my  health,  and  I  have  had  little  or  no 
return  of  the  fever  since  I  have  been  here.  The  day 
I  was  with  you,  I  found  myself  much  indisposed, 
and  therefore  very  unfit  for  company.  I  hope  your 
interview  with  —  was  agreeable;  I  could  expa- 
tiate in  her  praise,  but  must  forbear  at  present  till  a 
better  opportunity  shall  offer. 

"  I  have  been  to ,  and  find  N —  to  be  just 

the  same.  The   place  bears  a  gloomy  aspect  to  me, 
and  the  recollection  of  former  events  only  tends  to 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  145 

make  it   more  so.  I   cannot  help   saying  with  Dr. 
Goldsmith,  in  his  Deserted  Village, 

"  Here  as  with  doubtful,  pensive  steps  I  range, 
Trace  every  scene,  and  wonder  at  the  change, 
Remembrance  wakes,  with  all  her  busy  train, 
Swells  at  my  breast,  and  turns  the  past  to  pain.'* 

"  But,  however,  amidst  all  these  changes  and  re- 
volutions of  a  few  years,  yet  the  reflection  of  being 
preserved  by  an  all- wise  Providence  from  running 
into  the  vanities  of  the  world,  and  made  the  happy- 
recipient  of  divine  grace,  excites  in  my  heart  the 
warmest  gratitude,  and  I  hope,  the  most  unreserved 
love  to  him  who  is  the  author  of  my  existence,  and 
of  every  comfort  I  enjoy.  And  now,  my  dear  sis- 
ter, call  not  this  enthusiasm.  I  do  not  wish  to 
touch  upon  that  string,  which  in  your  ears  may 
cause  a  jarring  sound,  or  to  give  the  least  offence; 
but  you  must  acknowledge,  with  me,  that  we  never 
give  a  greater  evidence  of  our  rationality,  than 
when  we  devote  ourselves  to  that  Supreme  Being, 
whose  only  prerogative  it  is,  to  render  us  happy 
under  all  the  vicissitudes  of  life,  in  the  gloomy  and 
awful  hour  of  death,  and  when  time  shall  be  no 
more.  Let  us  fly  then,  instantly  fly  to  him,  that  we 
may  escape  his  anger,  and  the  curse  of  that  law  we 
have  violated. 

"  Be  not  displeased, — you  know  that  religion  is 
my  favourite  topic,  and  having  tasted  somewhat  of 
its  sweetness,  and  experienced  some  of  its  blessings, 
I  am  anxious  to  bring  you  and  others  to  a  partici- 
pation of  the  same.  Indeed  it  is  a  branch  of  my 

N 


146  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

duty,  and  part  of  that  sacred  function  in  which  I 
am  employed;  I  wish  therefore  to  fulfil  my  office, 
to  be  faithful,  and  ever  to  exercise  that  readiness  of 
mind,  in  doing  good  to  my  fellow-mortals,  which 
becomes  a  minister  in  so  important  and  arduous  a 
work.  That  you  may  be  brought  to  know  him, 
whom  to  know  is  life  eternal,  that  he  may  ever  bless 
you  with  the  best  of  blessings,  is  the  earnest  desire 
and  constant  prayer  of  your  affectionate  brother,  and 
willing  servant, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  IX. 

To  his  Mother. 

"  Bristol,  28th  July,  1792. 

"  Through  a  kind  Providence,  I  arrived  safe 

here  last  evening.  I  have  been  continually  employ- 
ed since  I  left  town.  I  have  preached  at  Wotton, 
Uley,  Kingswood,  Dursley,  Hillsley,  Upton,  Hors- 
ley,  Painswick,  and  Rodborough,  where  I  have  met 
with  much  hospitality,  and  found  the  people  ready 
and  attentive  to  hear  the  word.  O  that  my  feeble 
endeavours  may  be  blessed  by  him  in  whose  work  I 
am  employed,  and  whose  servant  I  humbly  hope  I 
am.  I  desire  to  possess  a  greater  spirit  of  philan- 
thropy to  my  fellow-mortals,  and  to  feel  myself  con- 
cerned for  the  good  of  their  souls.  And  now,  my 
dear  mother,  filial  affection  constrains  me  to  wish 
you  all  happiness,  and  to  implore  the  Divine  Being 
that  his  blessing  may  attend  you.  Great  has  been 


. 


su 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  147 

your  care,  and  repeated  your  advice  to  me  in  years 
that  are  past.  And  shall  a  child  now  presume  to  in- 
struct a  parent?  If  it  may  be  permitted  then,  my 
dear  mother,  let  me  exhort  you  to  confide  in,  and 
live  near  to  that  God  who  hath  been  your  preserver 
to  the  present  moment.  Need  I  say  (to  one  who 
hath  seen  that  all  things  here  are  vanity  and  vexa- 
tion of  spirit)  that  the  highest  enjoyment  mortal 
creatures  can  experience,  consists  in  communion 
with  God.  O  let  us  earnestly  supplicate  him  there- 
fore to  bless  us  with  the  light  of  his  countenance, 
that  we  may  be  enabled  to  rejoice  in  him  with  a  joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  Let  us  beware  of 
every  worldly  intrusion,  and  abstain  from  all  ap- 
pearance of  evil,  while  we  prove  to  those  around 
us,  by  our  consistency  of  conduct  and  general  de- 
portment, that  we  are  born  again  of  the  Spirit,  and 

e  under  his  continual  influence. 

"  In  respect  to   my  health,  I  trust  I  am  better 

than  when  I  left  London,  but  I  have  often  thought 

hat  the  continual  weakness  and   indisposition  I  am 

bject  to  will  issue  at  last  in  a  decline,  and  that 
London  tends  to  accelerate  my  end.  (But  what  will 
not  fancy  carry  one  to.)  However,  I  never  wish  to 
forget  its  approach,  but  to  keep  it  constantly  in 
view;  so  that  when  it  arrives  I  may  be  ready.  O 
blessed  period,  when  u  I  shall  die  to  live,  and  live 
to  die  no  more."  Happy  time,  when  I  trust  I  shall 
be  for  ever  exempt  from  pain,  and  released  from 
all  misery!  O  that,  in  that  solemn  hour,  I  may  be 
enabled  to  exult  and  sing,  u  O  death,  where  is  thy 
sting;  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory."  Now  may 


I 


148  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

the  Lord  bless  you,  my  dear  mother,  with  his  pre- 
sence, and  keep  you  by  his  mighty  power,  through 
faith  unto  salvation. 

"  I  remain,  your  affectionate  Son, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  X. 


"  Bristol,  30lh  July,  1792. 
—  "  You  have  heard,  I  suppose,  by  my  sister, 
that  my  health  is  in  a  manner  re-established  since 
I  have  been  in  the  country.  I  hope  I  shall  not  meet 
with  a  relapse,  though  my  body  is  much  fatigued  by 
incessant  labour.  I  would  wish  to  be  reminded,  by 
every  pain  I  feel,  of  my  mortality,  and  that  the 
time  will  arrive  when  I  must  be  brought  to  the 
house  appointed  for  all  living;  for,  alas!  "  what  is 
health  but  a  glimmering  taper,  that  expires  while  it 
shines,  and  is  liable  to  be  extinguished  by  every 
motion  of  the  air?  What  is  strength  but  a  tender 
blossom,  that  is  often  withered  in  its  fullest  bloom; 
often  blasted  even  before  it  is  blown?"*  It  is  good 
therefore  to  keep  our  dissolution  in  view,  while, 
with  a  spirit  of  faith  and  patience,  we  say,  with 
holy  Job,  u  All  the  days  of  my  appointed  time  will 
I  wait,  till  my  change  come."  But  may  I  ask  how 
it  is  with  you?  Is  your  wonted  health  continued;  and 
are  you,  above  all  things,  growing  in  grace?  Do  you 
feel  more  love  to  the  Saviour,  and  are  you  happily 

*  See  Hervey's  Consolation  to  the  Afflicted. 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  149 

constrained  to  take  up  your  cross  daily  and  follow 
him?  Are  you  enabled  to  look  with  a  holy  contempt 
upon  the  vanities  of  the  world,  and  so  to  pass 
through  it,  as  not  to  be  injured  bij  it?  If  so,  I  con- 
gratulate you,  and  earnestly  wish  you  still  greater 
progress  in  the  divine  life.  But  perhaps  you  are 
ready  to  say,  that  though  you  see  somewhat  of  the 
excellencies  of  Christ,  discern  the  beauty  of  his 
gospel,  believe  the  immutability  of  his  perfections, 
and  acknowledge  the  veracity  of  his  word;  yet  you 
cannot  live  to  his  praise  as  you  would,  nor  rejoice 
in  him  as  you  ought.  It  is  probable  some  reasons 
may  be  assigned  for  this.  Unbelief  perhaps  invades, 
the  cares  of  the  world  intrude,  or  the  enemy  of 
souls  distresses.  These  are  barriers  to  our  joy,  are 
hindrances  to  our  prosperity,  and  cause  us  to  live 
at  a  distance  from  him  we  profess  to  love  and  serve. 
Should  there  not  then  be  a  peculiar  and  unremitted 
exertion  of  all  the  powers  of  our  minds  against 
them?  Should  there  not  be  a  constant  exercise  of 
prayer  and  watchfulness?  Surely,  if  we  wish  to 
live  happy,  if  we  desire  to  rise  superior  to  all  the 
trifles  of  time  and  sense,  ought  we  not  to  put  on  the 
whole  armour  of  God?  Eph.  vi.  If  we  long  for  an 
increase  of  happiness,  there  should  be  an  increase 
of  holiness,  since  they  are  inseparably  connected. 
Let  us  then  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin 
which  doth  most  easily  beset  us,  and  run  with  ala- 
crity and  patience  the  race  set  before  us,  looking 
unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.  O 
that  God  may  sweetly  constrain  us  to  devote  our- 
selves to  him,  that  we  may  be  the  happy  persons 
N2 


150  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

who  shall  feel  the  influence  of  his  Spirit;  for,  in- 
deed, true  religion,  or  the  knowledge  of  him,  is  what 
one  plainly  but  justly  observes,  "  Not  a  name,  but 
a  nature;  not  a  notion,  but  a  motion."  I  now  re- 
main, yours  sincerely,  by  the  ties  of  nature  and 
bond  of  affection, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XI. 


"  Bristol,  1st  August,  1792. 

My  dear   C ,  Shall  I  thus  address  you,  or 

shall  my  pen  be  dipped  in  the  gall  of  displeasure, 
or  be  employed  in  the  language  of  reproof?  Had 
you  not  assigned  a  reason  which  I  myself  might  have 
been  swayed  by,  you  neglect  would  have  afforded 
some  ground  for  correction.  Punctuality  in  business, 
and  accomplishment  of  promise,  should  ever  be 
strictly  attended  to,  if  we  wish  to  preserve  our  re- 
putation and  maintain  uniformity  of  character. 

"  Providence  has  seen  proper,  these  three  or  four 
years  past,  to  place  us  at  such  a  distance  from  each 
other,  as  to  cause  our  interviews  to  be  but  seldom 
in  comparison  to  what  they  were  before;  but  my 
present  feelings  declare  (and  I  think  your  last  epis- 
tle speaks)  the  same  inviolable  attachment  to  subsist 
as  ever.  The  consideration  of  this  therefore  excites 
me  to  forgive,  though  it  would  have  added  to  my 
happiness  had  your  silence  been  of  shorter  con- 
tinuance. 

"  I  presume,  by  the  address  on  the  back  of  your 
letter,  that  you  had  forgotten  that  the  vacation  was 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  151 

commenced,  and  therefore  expected  I  had  been  still 
in  London.  I  have  been  from  thence  a  month,  and 
suppose  I  shall  be  three  weeks  longer  before  I  re- 
turn. I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  your 
ministry  has  been  acceptable  at  Hope  Chapel.  I 
have  been  told,  that  it  has  not  been  so  well  at- 
tended since  you  left  it.  I  do  not  mention  this  that 
you  may  be  elated  with  vanity,  but  that  you  may  be 
encouraged  to  proceed.  I  am  no  great  votary  for 
unmeaning  adulation,  or  useless  panegyric,  as  it 
must  be  fulsome  to  every  person  of  refined,  or  even 
common  sense;  but  I  believe  the  information  cf  suc- 
cess, of  good  being  done  to  our  fellow-mortals,  must 
prove  such  welcome  intelligence  as  to  excite  the 
warmest  gratitude  in  the  sincere  heart  and  generous 
mind.  Go  on,  therefore,  my  dear  friend,  with  the 
sacred  volume  in  your  hand,  with  a  spirit  of  philan- 
thropy in  your  breast,  the  love  of  Christ  on  your 
tongue,  and  his  glory  alone  in  your  eye,  and  use- 
fulness must  succeed. 

"  Social  religion,  as  you  observe,  in  the  present 
day,  is  thought  too  precise.  The  reason  is,  perhaps, 
that  the  generality  of  those  who  ought  to  inculcate 
it  in  the  pulpit,  by  their  preaching,  and  in  their 
lives^,  by  their  example,  are  men  dispossessed  of  any 
concern  for  the  welfare  of  mankind.  Is  it  not  la- 
mentable, that  many  who  have  to  address  large  and 
perhaps  illiterate  auditories,  instead  of  speaking  to 
their  capacities  and  adapting  themselves  to  their  un- 
derstandings, as  it  were,  philosophize  the  truth,  and 
render  it  impossible  to  be  understood  by  the  ma- 
jority of  the  hearers;  or,  on  the  other  hand,  what 


152  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

they  deliver  is  done  with  such  supineness,  as  if  it  were 
a  matter  of  the  smallest  moment.  As  one  observes, 
"Their  discourses  from  the  pulpit  are  generally 
dry,  methodical,  and  unafFecting,  delivered  with 
the  most  insipid  calmness;  insomuch,  that  should 
the  peaceful  preacher  lift  up  his  head  over  the 
cushion,  which  alone  he  seems  to  address,  he  might 
discover  his  audience,  instead  of  being  awakened 
to  remorse,  actually  sleeping  over  his  methodical 
and  laboured  composition."  See  Goldsmiths  Essays, 
"  I  have  been  thinking,  therefore,  in  order  to  fa- 
cilitate usefulness,  that  there  should  be  an  address 
to  the  passions,  as  well  as  to  the  judgment,  and  that 
an  extreme  on  both  sides  should  be  guarded  against, 
lest  we  follow  the  example  of  some  who  are  preach- 
ing all  to  the  affections,  and  others  all  to  the  under- 
standing. But  divine  direction  is  necessary;  let  us 
then  supplicate  the  assistance  of  Him  who  spake  as 
never  man  spake;  and  whose  only  prerogative  it  is 
to  make  us  wise  to  win  souls. 

"  I  remain  yours  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XII. 

"  Bristol,  2d  August,  1792. 

u  The  recollection  of  the  great  and  repeated 

tokens  of  kindness  received  from  you  constrains  me 
to  take  up  my  pen.  Indeed  it  would  be  ingratitude  in 
me  were  I  not  to  acknowledge  your  invariable  ci- 
vility and  attention,  even  from  the  first  moment  of 
our  acquaintance.    Happy  friendship,  that  length  of 


REV,  CHARLES  BUCK.  153 

time,  nor  distance  of  place,  cannot  dissolve!  But 
what  retaliation  shall  I  make,  or  how  shall  I  com- 
pensate my  friends  for  the  continual  respect  they 
manifest,  but  by  assuring  them  that  they  shall  not 
be  forgotten  at  a  throne  of  grace. 

"  I  hope  you  both  remain  well.  O  what  an  inva- 
luable blessing  is  health,  and  how  much  more  prized 
by  the  deprivation  of  it!  This  I  have  learned  by  ex- 
perience, since  more  than  once  have  I  been  brought 
to  the  confines  of  the  grave,  when  my  surrounding 
friends  have  been  ready  to  say,  "  The  place  that 
now  knoweth  him,  will  soon  know  him  no  more!" 
And  often  have  I  thought  that  my  departure  was  at 
hand,  but  yet  am  I  spared;  though  the  weakness  of 
my  constitution  still  reminds  me  of  my  dissolution. 
I  have  been  incessantly  engaged  in  my  Master's 
work  since  I  left  London,  and,  blessed  be  God,  it 
has  in  some  measure  been  rendered  pleasant.  O,  to 
be  an  ambassador  from  God  is  the  highest  honour* 
and  the  most  inestimable  privilege  a  mortal  crea* 
ture  can  be  favoured  with!  "How  beautiful  upon 
the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good 
tidings,  that  publisheth  peace,  that  bringeth  good 
tidings  of  good,  that  publisheth  salvation,  that  saith 
unto  Zion,  Thy  God  reigneth."  Isaiah,  liL  7.  The 
office  truly  is  arduous,  but  we  have  One  who  is  suf- 
ficient to  strengthen  and  enable  us  to  discharge  it 
with  zeal  and  faithfulness.  Were  I  more  depen- 
dant upon  him,  I  think  my  usefulness  would  be 
more  extensive;  but,  alas!  I  am  too  frequently  found 
in  a  supine  and  careless  state,  my  heart  indifferent, 
my  faith  small,  my  tongue  silent.  I  want  to  cleave 


154  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

closer  to  him  in  private,  that  I  may  be  more  blessed 
in  public;  I  wish  to  give  up  my  all  to  God,  that  he 
may  vouchsafe  to  give  himself  to  me,  for  indepen- 
dent of  his  benign  presence,  and  without  his  divine 
blessing,  I  can  experience  no  happiness  in  myself, 
nor  be  the  instrument  of  doing  good  to  others.  But, 
however,  I  trust  you,  my  dear  friends,  are  growing 
in  grace,  are  flourishing  plants  in  the  garden  of  the 
Lord.  Perhaps  you  are  lamenting  your  state,  unbe- 
lief and  the  world  invade,  and  you  are  ready  to 
give  way  to  despondency;  but  remember  you  have 
one  who  is  more  potent  than  all,  one  who  hath  said, 
"  I  will  be  as  a  wall  of  fire  round  about  you;"  one 
who  hath  engaged  to  protect  and  will  delight  to 
bless  you.  When  some  foreign  ambassadors  came 
pretty  early  in  the  morning  to  have  an  audience 
with  Alexander,  they  were  told  his  majesty  was 
not  stirring;  upon  which  they  expressed  some  sur- 
prise, that  a  potentate  who  had  so  many  and  such 
momentous  affairs  to  manage  should  sleep  so  long; 
the  king  hearing  of  their  observation  ordered  them 
to  be  informed,  '  that  though  he  slept,  Parme-nio 
waked;'  and  though  we  sleep,  though  we  forget,  too 
often  forget  ourselves,  and  our  adored  Redeemer: 
He  the  great  keeper  of  Israel  neither  slumbers  nor 
sleeps;  never,  never  forgets  either  us  or  our  in- 
terests.#  Repair  therefore  to  him,  let  him  be  the 
chief  object  of  your  affection.  Strive  to  maintain  a 
grateful,  a  continual  sense  of  his  love  on  your  hearts. 
Do  you  wish  to  be  happy?  I  know  you  do.  Carry  on 

*  Vide  Hervey's  Letters  to  Lady  Shirley, 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  155 

then  a  heavenly  correspondence  with  him;  intreat 
him  that  you  may  be  kept  from  the  intrusion  of 
worldly  cares,  that  your  negociations  here  may  not 
prevent  your  negociating  for  eternity.  Let  the 
blessed  Jesus  be  ever  in  view,  not  only  in  the  closet, 
but  in  the  dining  room,  in  the  shop,  in  all,  then  shall 
prosperity  attend  your  steps,  and  peace  reside  in 
your  dwellings.  Thus,  my  dear  friends,  suffer  the 
word  of  exhortation,  and  may  the  ever  glorious 
Redeemer  be  propitious  to  your  souls,  and  bless 
you  abundantly  with  the  best  of  blessings,  is  the 
sincere  petition  of, 

"  Yours  inviolably  in  the  best  bonds, 

"C.  B." 


No.  XIII. 

"  Bristol,  6th  August,  1792. 
Happy  am  I  in  having  the  opportunity  of 
*oving  that  I  have  not  forgotten  you.  Indeed  the 
ties  of  friendship  and  dictates  of  affection  would  not 
have  suffered  me  to  have  neglected  writing.  When 
I  call  to  mind  the  many  sweet  hours  we  have  spent 
in  Christian  converse,  the  happy  seasons  we  have 
experienced  *at  a  throne  of  grace,  and  how  often 
we  have  walked  together  to  the  house  of  God,  and 
with  rapture  heard  of  the  boundless  compassion,  the 
inimitable  goodness,  and  unspeakable  love  of  the 
dear  Redeemer,  it  still  endears  that  friendships 
which  I  hope  will  continue  till  months  and  years 
revolve  no  more;  yea,  till  that  happy  period,  when 
we  shall  arrive  in  the  realms  of  bliss;  where  I  trust 
it  shall  subsist;  never,  never  to  be  dissolved. 


156  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

"  Yesterday  I  was  employed  in  executing  my  em- 
bassage to  poor  sinners.   The  number  that  attend 

are  astonishing.   Mr. was  engaged  in  (what  is 

very  unfashionable,  and  disgusting  to  the  world) 
preaching  out  of  doors,  and  inviting  the  vilest  to 
come  and  participate  in  the  blessings  of  the  ever- 
lasting gospel.  O  my  dear  friend,  what  welcome 
news  is  it,  that  the  arms  of  Jesus  are  expanded,  and 
that  he  is  willing  to  save  the  most  guilty!  Is  not 
this  encouragement  for  us  who  have  so  long  rebel- 
led against  him?  Let  us  repair,  therefore,  to  him, 
that  our  sins  may  be  pardoned,  our  persons  justifi- 
ed, and  that  we  may  at  last  reign  with  him  for  ever 
and  ever. 

"  But  perhaps  my  friend  is  mourning  under  a 
sense  of  his  own  corruptions,  and  complaining  that 
Jesus  is  so  little  the  object  of  his  affections.  Alas! 
Sir,  this  is  too  much  the  case  with  us  all.  Unbelief 
assaults,  Satan  opposes,  sin  allures,  so  that  we  are 
sometimes  brought  almost  to  the  borders  of  despair! 
I  confess  for  myself,  that  such  is  the  unfavourable 
light  I  often  view  things  in,  that  I  am  led  to  con- 
clude that  I  am  only  born  to  be  miserable,  only 
known  to  be  despised,  and  only  live  to  rebel;  but 
yet  I  dare  not  give  it  up,  because,  as  I  observed 
before,  Jesus  is  able  to  save  and  willing  to  forgive 
the  greatest  sinners:  O  were  not  this  the  case, 
trembling  and  horror  would  seize  my  guilty  soul! 
I  must  sit  down  and  weep  over  my  hopeless  state, 
and  expect  nothing  but  vindictive  justice  to  plunge 
ine  into  the  gulf  of  unutterable  woe!  But  with  him 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  15T 

there  is  mercy.  O  sweet  word!  on  this  my  hope  de- 
pends; on  this  I  stake  my  all.  But  shall  I  sin  against 
him  because  I  know  there  is  forgiveness?  God  for- 
bid! If  you  had  been  the  person  who  had  kindly 
sav  d  me  from  impending  danger;  if  you  had  pre- 
served me  from  some  approaching  dreadful  catas- 
trophe; if  you  had  protected  me  from  some  direful 
calamity;  if  you  had  supported  me  in  some  heavy 
affliction;  if  you  had  sympathized  with  me  in  some 
pungent  distress;  would  it  not  have  been  the  deep- 
est ingratitude,  the  greatest  unkindness,  to  have  dis- 
carded you  for  it,  to  have  taken  no  notice,  or  to 
have  employed  my  tongue  in  reproaching  you?  But 
O,  how  much  more  so,  when  I  consider  that  Jesus 
hath  plucked  me  as  a  brand  from  the  burning;  that 
he  has  protected  me  from  the  most  imminent  dan- 
gers; that  he  has  preserved  me  from  the  greatest 
evils;  and  blessed  me  with  so  many  unspeakable 
mercies!  Can  I  then  wilfully  sin  against  so  gracious 
a  friend?  O  my  soul,  tremble  at  the  thought,  and 
fly,  instantly  fly,  from  the  approach  of  that  which  is 
such  an  enemy  to  him,  so  injurious  to  myself.  But 
whither  am  I  going?  I  am  writing  of  myself  instead 
of  writing  to  my  friend.  But  perhaps  his  feelings 
are  the  same;  if  so,  then  let  us  unite  in  supplicating 
the  throne  of  grace,  that  while,  on  the  one  hand,  we 
rejoice  in  his  mercy,  yet  on  the  other  we  may  adorn 
the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour  in  all  things,  But 
it  is  probable  you,  like  myself,  are  complaining  how 
much  the  world  intrudes,  how  much  it  proves  a 
barrier  to  your  communion  with  God,  and  hinders 
vour  spiritual  progress.  It  is  true  we  cannot  forbear 

O 


158  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

having  something  to  do  with  it;  but  as  one  ob- 
serves, "  the  mischief  arises  not  from  our  living  in 
the  world;  but  the  world  living  in  us,  occupying  our 
hearts,  and  monopolizing  our  affections."^  It  re- 
quires peculiar  supplies  of  grace  to  be  enabled  to 
pass  through  it,  and  not  to  be  injured  by  it.  How- 
ever, let  us  not  forget  that  we  have  one  who  can 
gain  us  the  victory.  O  that  he  may  ever  dwell  in 
your  heart  and  mine  by  faith,  and  then  we  shall  be 
more  than  conquerors.  My  paper  forbids  my  en- 
larging, I  must  therefore  conclude,  wishing  you  the 
best  of  blessings  in  time  and  for  ever. 
"I  remain  your  willing  servant, 

M  and  affectionate  friend, 

#  C.  B." 


No.  XIV. 

"Bristol,  8th  August,  1792. 
i  u  The  last  letter  I  received  from  London, 
brought  me  the  unwelcome  intelligence  of  your  be- 
ing indisposed;  but  I  hope  this  will  find  you  much 
recovered.  Alas!  how  precarious  is  health,  how 
soon  are  our  frail  tabernacles  disordered;  how  sud- 
denly arrested  by  pain,  how  easily  invaded  by  sick- 
ness. I  cannot  say  I  have  reason  to  complain  at  pre- 
sent, though  my  animal  frame  is  enervated,  and  my 
hand  trembles  while  it  writes;  yet  I  would  bless 
my  God  that  it  is,  as  it  is,  I  find  his  voice  in  this, 
«yea  in  all  my  afflictions  to  be  "  Arise  and  depart, 

*  Mrs.  Hannah  More*s  Manners  of  the  Great. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  159 

tor  this  is  not  your  rest."  Indeed  we  have  need  of 
perpetual  monitors  to  remind  us  of  the  inconsisten- 
cy of  being  too  warmly  attached  to  sublunary  things, 
and  to  show  us  that  a  inordinate  affection  is  the  way 
to  inordinate  affliction."  And  have  we  not,  my  dear 
friend,  ere  now  been  ready  to  take  up  our  abode 
here?   Have  we  not  imagined   ourselves  to  be  sur- 
rounded with  delights,  and  thought  that  prosperity 
attended  our  steps;  when  lo!  in  the  midst  of  all,  we 
have  no  sooner  endeavoured  to  pluck   some  sweet 
flower,  but  it  hath  withered  in  our  hands;  or  some 
sharp  thorn  was  hid  behind,  in  order   to  create   a 
pain  with  our  pleasure?  What  then,  shall  not  these 
grievous,  and  I  may  say  repeated  repulses  teach  us, 
that  all  on  earth  is  shadow;  shall  it  not  induce  us  to 
write  mutability  on  every  object?  Shall  it  not  lead 
us  to  depend  on  him   in  whom   is  no  variableness 
or  shadow   of  turning?  It  is   true  wealth  may  be 
agreeable,  abilities  may  be  desirable,  and  friendship 
may  be  sweet;  but  yet  if  these  are  the  only  sources 
of  our  joy  we  shall  be  very  far  from  obtaining  real 
peace  and  permanent  pleasure.  And  however  fana- 
tical it  may  appear  to  an  unthinking  world  to  im- 
plore the  Supreme  Being  for  true  happiness,  yet  let 
such  remember  that  he  is  the  alone  author  of  it,  and 
without  his  Spirit  it  is  impossible  to  find  it. 

"  And  cannot  I  congratulate  my  friend  on  his 
being  sensible  of  this;  and  do  not  I  see  him  imitating 
the  Psalmist,  and  saying,  "  My  soul  wait  thou  upon 
God,  for  my  expectation  is  only  from  him."  Yes,  I 
trust  he  knows  whose  smile  it  is  that  makes  a  heaven; 
whose  frown  it  is  that  creates  a  hell!  To  exhort  you, 


160  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

therefore,  would  be  needless,  but  to  rejoice  with  you 
is  my  privilege. 

44 1  find  that  great  man  of  God,  Mr.  Ryland,  is 
gone  home.  I  cannot  say,  but  that  I  experienced 
some  emotions  of  sorrow  when  I  heard  it,  because 
I  respected  him  as  a  man  of  grace  as  well  as  intel- 
lect. Where  was  the  man  that  possessed  such  a  ca- 
pacious understanding;  such  a  rich  genius,  such  un- 
accountable fire  and  zeal,  and  a  soul  filled  with  the 
noblest  ideas  of  God;  with  such  hatred  to  sin,  with 
such  love  to  holiness,  with  such  unbounded  desire  to 
promote  the  glory  of  Christ?  Though  his  body  was 
debilitated,  and  he  for  some  months  rendered  inca- 
pable of  attending  to  public  duty,  yet  I  never  was  in 
his  company,  but  I  was  sure  to  find  something  pro- 
fitable; yea,  what  he  has  said  I  believe,  will  not  be 
easily  erased  from  my  mind,  while  I  am  this  side  of 
the  grave.  But  he  is  gone,  and  that  to  dwell  with 
Him  whom  he  ardently  loved,  and  now  incessantly 
adores.  O  let  us  be  anticipating  the  happy  time  when 
we  also  shall  be  called  away,  to  enter  into  that  rest 
M'hich  remains  for  the  people  of  God. 
"  I  now  subscribe  myself, 

u  Your  willing  servant, 

"  C.  B.'s 


No.  XV. 

"  Bristol,  9th  August,  1792. 
a  — —  With    inexpressible  pleasure    your    kind 
epistle  came  to  hand.  What  joy  does  it  afford  me  to 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  161 

bear  from  those  to  whom  I  am  attached;  but  it  is  an 
additional  satisfaction  when  I  consider  that  a  few 
days  will  make  a  personal  interview  practicable. 
And  here  let  me  not  be  accused  of  enthusiasm,  if  I 
endeavour  to  improve  the  thought,  by  observing, 
how  welcome  that  period,  how  glorious  that  hour, 
when  we  poor  pilgrims  shall  be  called  from  exile 
home  to  meet  the  Friend  of  Sinners,  the  Beloved  of 
our  Souls!  When  the  blissful  sentence  shall  be  pro- 
nounced, u  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit 
the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation 
of  the  world!"  O  what  transport  wihV  fill  our  hearts; 
what  songs  of  praise  will  dwell  on  our  lips;  what 
fiames  of  love  shall  be  kindled  in  our  souls,  never,  no 
never  to  be  extinguished,  throughout  the  countless 
ages  of  eternity!  Eternity,  did  I  say?  Astonishing 
word!  I  am  lost  in  reflection! — As  one  observes,* 
"  Mysterious,  mighty  existence!  A  sum  not  to  be 
lessened  by  the  largest  deductions;  an  extent  not  to 
be  contracted  by  all  possible  diminutions!  None  can 
truly  say,  after  the  most  prodigious  waste  of  ages, 
so  much  of  eternity  is  gone.  For  when  millions  of 
centuries  are  elapsed,  it  is  but  just  commencing,  and 
when  millions  more  have  run  their  ample  round,  it 
will  be  no  nearer  ending!  Yea,  when  ages,  numerous 
as  the  bloom  of  spring,  increased  by  the  herbage  of 
summer;  both  augmented  by  the  leaves  of  autumn, 
and  all  multiplied  by  the  drops  of  rain  which  drown 
the  winter;  when  these,  and  ten  thousand  times  ten 
thousand  more — more  than   can  be  represented  by 


*Mr.  Hervey. 
0  2 


162  MEMOIRS  Or  THE 

any    similitude,    or    imagined  by   any  conception: 
when  all  these  are  revolved  and  finished,  eternity, 
vast,  boundless,  amazing  eternity,  will  only  be  be- 
ginning!" And  what!  shall  we  spend  this  eternity 
with  the  adorable  Jesus?  Shall  we  be  the  happv  per- 
sons to  reign  for  ever  with  him?   Yes,  I  trust  rue, 
even  zve,  who  have  rebelled  against  him,    we  who 
have  violated  his  law,  shall,  through  divine  mercy 
and  free  grace,  be   brought  to  the  realms  of  glory 
above.    O     delightful    idea!     Let    us    indulge     the 
thought;  let  us  encourage  the  meditation;  let  us  step 
aside  from  the  busy  world,  and  invite  the  pleasing 
reflection;  let  us  endeavour  to  drawback  the  curtain, 
and   with  an  eye  of  faith  look  into  eternity;  let  us 
humbly  penetrate,  let  us  joyfully  behold  those  hea- 
venly  mansions,   while    we    incessantly  adore    and 
thankfully  admire  the  benign  and  boundless  love  of 
the  great  Jehovah  as  the  result  of  all.   But  yet,  after 
all,  how   dark    our  perceptions,    how  clouded  our 
views  of  the  celestial  state.   Mortality  must  be  re- 
signed, and  our  souls  must  be  brought  into  the  pos- 
session before  we  can  have  a  clear  and  full  discovery 
of  its  blessedness.   Yea,  who  can  tell  but  that  our 
bliss  may  be  increasing  for  ever.   O  what  a  reviving 
cordial  is  this  for  our  dejected  minds!   Blessed  anti- 
cipation, come  thou  and  dwell  with  us,  reside  in  our 
breasts,  and  live  in  all  the  trials  and  vicissitudes  at- 
tending us  here,  until  the  time  arrive  when  we  shall 
experience  the    real  enjoyment,  when  we  shall  no 
longer  see  through  a  glass  darkly,  but  face  to  face. 
Adorable    Redeemer,  prepare    us    for    this    happy 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  163 

change,  that  our  constant  language  may  be,  u  Come, 
Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly,  Amen." 
44  I  now  remain,  my  dear, 

44  Yours  very  affectionately  for  ever. 

U  C.  B." 


No.  XVI, 

"  Hoxton,  December  10th,  1792. 

44  My  dear  C ,  The  unwelcome  news,  I  sup- 
pose, hath  not  reached  your  ear.   Our  old  friend  and 

acquaintance,  C e,  on  Sabbath-day  week,  broke 

his  thigh  by  a  fall;  and  on  Friday  morning  entered 
(I  humbly  hope)  into  his  eternal  rest?  This  sudden 
and  unexpected  event  hath  no  small  effect  upon  our 
minds.  Indeed,  for  myself,  I  cannot  bear  to  reflect 
on  it,  for  busy  memory  calls  up  a  multitude  of  past 
instances,  wherein  it  must  be  said  he  showed  great 
kindness.  I  imagine  to  myself  I  see  him,  hear  him, 
and  am  conversing  with  him  as  in  former  time;  but, 
alas!  he  is  gone,  and  the  place  that  once  knew  him 
shall  know  him  no  more! 

44 1  am  conscious,  my  brother,  you  feel  with  us, 
and  though  of  late  you  have  not  had  the  opportunity 
of  being  much  with  him,  yet  you  cannot  but  recol- 
lect those  hours  when  you  joined  in  Christian  con- 
verse with  him,  those  seasons  when  you  walked  to 
the  house  of  the  Lord  together,  and  were  closely 
united  by  the  bonds  of  brotherly  love.  These,  and 
many  other  circumstances,  no  doubt  strike  your 
mind,  while  you  are  ready  to  say,  44 1  am  distressed 


164  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

for  thee,  my  brother  Jonathan;-  very  pleasant  hast 
thou  been  to  me,  thy  love  to  me  was  wonderful." 
But,  my  dear  brother,  let  us  not  sorrow  as  those 
without  hope;  let  us  endeavour  to  improve  this  be- 
reaving dispensation;  let  it  remind  us  of  our  short 
continuance  here,  and  that  we  must  needs  die,  and 
be  as  water  spilt  upon  the  ground,  which  cannot  be 
gathered  up  again.  We  know  not  how  soon  the  slen- 
der thread  of  our  livts  may  be  cut:  Our  friend  is 
taken  away  in  the  prime  of  life:  Death's  arrow  may 
soon  be  pointed  at  us:  some  direful  accident,  some 
raging  fever,  may  soon  bring  us  to  the  house  appoint- 
ed for  all  living.  u  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of 
few  days,  and  full  of  trouble;  he  cometh  forth  like  a 
flower,  and  is  cut  down;  he  fleeth  as  a  shadow,  and 
continueth  not."  But  blessed  be  God,  cannot  we 
sing, 

"  Death  cannot  make  our  souls  afraid, 
If  God  be  with  us  there; 
Soft  is  the  passage  through  the  shade, 

And  all  the  prospect  fair."  W  atts; 

Happy  will  it  be  for  us,  in  that  awful  moment,  to  be 
interested  in  the  love  of  a  gracious  Saviour;  then 
shall  we  be  enabled  to  go  off  as  victorious  conque- 
rors, and  not  as  vanquished  enemies.  But  while  our 
lives  are  spared,  let  us  redeem  the  time.  O  Lord,  so 
teach  us  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply 
our  hearts  unto  wisdom. 

"  I  am,  my  dear  brother, 

"  Your's  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  B." 


REV.  CHARGES  BUCK.  165 

Before  I  introduce  any  portions  of  Mr.  Buck's 
correspondence  and  diary,  commencing  with  the 
year  1793,  the  following  extract,  with  which  he  be- 
gins his  memoirs  of  that  period,  is  too  valuable  not 
to  be  inserted  in  this  its  proper  place. 

"  The  month  of  January,  1793,  brings  us  the  in- 
telligence of  the  death  of  the  celebrated  Rev.  John 
Berridge  of  Everton.  He  was  a  popular  but  quaint 
preacher;  certainly  possessing  some  degree  of  origi- 
nality. He  was  no  mean  scholar;  but  entered  the 
ministry  with  very  dark  and  cloudy  views  of  divine 
truth,  and  for  some  time  remained  in  this  state,  pro- 
ducing no  salutary  effects  on  his  auditory;  but  being 
through  divine  influence  brought  at  last  to  a  clear 
view  of  gospel  sentiments,  and  feeling  their  power 
on  his  heart,  he  altered  his  mode  of  preaching,  and 
in  a  little  time  it  is  surprising  how  useful  he  became. 
It  is  said,  that  in  the  first  year  he  was  visited  by  a 
,  thousand  different  persons  under  serious  impres- 
sions; and  it  has  been  computed,  that  under  his  own 
and  the  joint  ministry  of  Mr.  Hicks,  about  four 
i  thousand  were  awakened  to  a  concern  for  their 
|  souls  in  about  the  space  of  twelve  months.  I  record 
this  here,  that  any  who  read  these  pages,  and  are 
looking  forward  to  the  sacred  work,  may  remember 
two  things;  first,  that  usefulness  should  be  the  su- 
preme object  a  minister  should  ever  keep  in  view; 
knowledge  is  not  to  be  despised,  literary  attainments 
are  not  to  be  neglected,  the  cultivation  of  talents  or 
gifts  not  to  be  thought  lightly  of;  but  I  say  useful- 
ness, usefulness,  should  be  the    design,  and  every 


166  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

study,   every  plan,  every   exertion,  every  address, 
should    all  be  rendered  subservient   to  this.  And 
then,  in  the  second  place,  remember,  that  as  useful- 
ness is  the  great  object,  so  the  only  way  to  facilitate 
and  promote  this,  is  to  preach  Christ    Jesus  and 
him  crucified,  and  exhibiting  him  to  miserable  men, 
in  the  wisdom  of  his  designs,  the  eternity   of  his 
love,   the   merit   of  his  work,   the  freeness   of  his 
grace,  the  beauty  of  his  doctrines,  the  abundance  of 
his  promises,,  in  the  loveliness  of  his  spirit,  and  the 
excellency  of  his  example.   O  ye  candidates  for  the 
sacred  work,  if  ye  long  to  do  good,  to  be  wise,  to 
win  souls,  to  behold  success  in  your  ministry,  ever 
recollect  that  this  is  the  only  way.   Dare  not  to  go 
forth  unless  this  be  your  determination;  rather  re- 
tire, and  hide  yourselves  in  the  shades  of  obscurity, 
if  you  do  not  intend  to  display  the   glories  of  the 
cross.   For  it  is  this  that  gives  dignity  to  our  every 
service,  that  constitutes  the  splendour  and  excellen- 
cy of  every  sermon,  and   this   only  which  will   be 
effectual  in  rescuing  immortal  beings  from  the  paths 
of  misery  and  destruction.   I  would  rather  be  John 
Berridge,  with  my   spiritual   children   around  me, 
than  the   greatest  monarch,  poet,  hero,  or  philoso- 
pher in  the  world,  who  never  had  the  honour,  and 
who  perhaps  never  made  the  attempt  to  convert  one 
soul  to  the  true  God. 

"  I  have  been  now  speaking  of  usefulness,  and 
that  more  especially  as  it  regards  the  best  part  of 
man;  but  let  it  not  be  understood  that  I  think  no- 
thing of  sympathy,  of  charity  to  the  body,  of  libera- 
lity to  the  poor,  of  the  common  principles  of  educa- 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  167 

tion,  of  ameliorating  the  temporal  calamities  of  man- 
kind. Far   from   it.    I   was  delighted  this  year  in 
having  an  opportunity  of  visiting  St.   Paul's  cathe- 
dral, at  the  general  assembly  of  all  the  charity-chil- 
dren in  the  different  parishes  in  London,  amounting 
to  several    thousands.    It  is   truly   a  grand    sight. 
Their  different  dress,  by  which  they  are  distinguish- 
ed;   their   admirable   position,  one  above   another, 
and  their  vast  number,  form  such  a  coup  cTwil,  that 
is  not  easily  to  be  found  elsewhere.  So  many  infant 
voices  too,  all  united,  so  clear  yet  so  harmonious, 
singing  hallelujah,  and  ascribing  universal  praise  to 
the  Most  High,  thrilled  through  the  soul,*  and  pro- 
duced so   powerful  an  effect,  that  some  have  been 
scarcely  able  to  bear  it.   But,  above  all,  the  charm- 
ing thought,  that  all  these  are  the  children  of  Bri- 
tish benevolence,    a  benevolence   which    not    only 
clothes  their  bodies,  so  that  they  may  well  say,  "  I 
was   naked   and  ye  clothed  me,"   but  which  takes 
them  by  the  hand,  and  leads  them  to  the  abodes  of 
instruction,  and,  on  sabbath-days,  to  the  temple  of 
God.  Yet  these,  after  all,  form  but  a  part,   in  this 
vast  metropolis,  of  those  who,  in  different  commu- 
nities, are  under  instruction.  What  may  we  not  ex- 
pect from  the   various  institutions  of  this  kind,  if 
due  care  be   taken,  but  that  many  shall  run  to  and 
fro,  and  knowledge  be  increased." 

*  An  old  musician  took  his  station  just  by  me;  when  the  chil- 
dren struck  up  the  100th  Psalm,  he  was  so  overwhelmed  that 
he  could  scarcely  sit,  and  exclaimed,  "  Now  my  hair  begins  t© 
stand  on  end." 


168  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

Early  in  this  year,  Mr.  Buck  visited  Walsall,  and 
preached  there  during  several  sabbaths;  he  also 
made  excursions  into  most  of  the  adjacent  towns 
and  villages,  on  one  errand — to  recommend  to  the 
attention  of  his  hearers  the  glorious  Redeemer;  de- 
termining not  to  know  any  thing  among  men,  but 
<c  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified."  On  his  return 
from  this  extensive  and  laborious  tour,  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  studies  of  the  academy,  and  prepared 
for  a  public  examination  in  Greek  and  Hebrew, 
through  which  he  passed  with  honour.  He  also  de- 
livered a  theological  address  before  his  tutors,  fel- 
low-students, and  various  ministers.  This  he  de- 
scribes as  a  severe  trial,  but  observes,  that  "  he  got 
through  better  than  he  expected."  In  this  part  of  his 
narrative,  he  thus  notices  the  death  of  an  eminent 
minister  of  Christ. 

"  I  had  not  returned  long,  before  I  was  informed 
of  the  death  of  the  Rev.    Nathaniel   Trotman,  of 
White  Row,  London.  The  day  he  died  he  enjoyed 
an  unusual  degree  of  composure,  and  spent  part  of 
the  evening  in  spiritual  conversation  with  a  friend. 
Soon  after,  he  ordered  his  servant  to  bring  the  Bi- 
ble, and  then  get  his   supper.  On  his  return,  about 
twenty  minutes  after,  he  found  Mr.  T.  dead  on  the 
floor,  having  expired,  it  is  supposed,  in  the  act  of 
prayer.  Thus,  "  blessed  is  that  servant  whom  his 
Lord,  when  he  cometh,  shall  find  so  doing."  Though 
not  a  man  of  extraordinary  genius,  yet,  in  some  re- 
spects, he  was  a  model  for  young  preachers.  In  the 
pulpit,  his  action  was  just,  equally  remote  from 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  169 

theatric  affectation  and  the  insipid  formality  of  in- 
difference. His  subjects  were  purely  evangelical.  In 
his  preaching,  there  was  the  light  of  doctrine  with- 
out the  dryness  of  system;  the  warmth  of  experi- 
ence without  the  wild  nre  of  enthusiasm;  the  neces- 
sity of  morality  without  the  ostentation  of  pharisa- 
ism.  His  divisions  were  natural,  his  inferences  just, 
and  his  applications  by  far  the  most  animated  parts 
of  his  discourses.  His  language  was  plain,  but  not 
vulgar;  his  address  was  affectionate,  but  not  ful- 
some; faithful,  but  not  acrimonious*  By  maintain- 
ing an  agreeable  mixture  of  each,  he  preserved  a 
dignity  worthy  of  the  Lord's  ambassador,  and  a 
tenderness  altogether  becoming  the  fellow  Chris- 
tian. It  is  pleasant  also,  when  the  ministers  of  di- 
vine truth  have  been  preserved  to  the  close  of  their 
work  in  a  state  of  true  devotedness  to  God,  so  as  to 
leave  such  a  character  behind  them  as  shall  prove  a 
perpetual  sermon  to  those  who  reflect  on  it.  A 
pious  divine,  who  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  his  ac- 
quaintance five-and-thirty  years,  thus  spake  of  him; 
"  Were  I  to  sum  up  all  in  a  few  words,  and  speak 
my  real  sentiments  of  him,  it  should  be,  that  he  was 
a  Nathaniel  for  uprightness  and  sincerity,  a  Moses 
for  meekness,  a  Job  for  patience,  a  Josiah  for  piety, 
a  David  for  humility,  a  Jeremiah  for  lamentation 
over  poor  sinners,  and  a  Paul  for  zeal  for  the  glory 
of  God."  May  such  lovely  characters  be  found  in 
every  age." 

Mr.  Buck  records,  with  heartfelt  pleasure,  an  in- 
stance of  his  successful  preaching,  which  came  to 
his  knowledge  about  this  time. 

P 


1TG  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

"  I  had  reason,"  he  observes,  "  to  be  thankful  fcr 
encouragement  in  several  instances,  as  well  as  for 
reproof.  This  very  day  I  received  the  following 
note: — 

"  Reverend  Sir — Please  to  excuse  the  liberty  I 
have  taken,  in  troubling  you  with  these  few  lines. 
You  may  say  you  have  the  honour  of  calling  a  sin- 
ner from  the  brink  of  hell.  The  first  time  I  came 
to  Silver  Street  Chapel,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hear- 
ing you,  and  ever  since,  I  have  embraced  all  oppor- 
tunities. When  I  hear  you  preach,  it  makes  me 
say,  What  a  sinner  I  am.  I  remain,  your  humble 
servant, 

"  H.  C." 

"  And  is  not  this  the  tendency  of  a  preached  gos- 
pel? That  sermon  which  makes  a  man  satisfied  with 
himself,  which  increases  his  dependence  on  his 
works,  and  which  leads  not  the  mind  to  humbling 
views,  under  a  sense  of  depraved  nature,  is  neither 
according  to  truth,  nor  will  it  ever  effect  any  good. 
No,  it  is  the  gospel,  faithfully  preached,  that  will 
lead  a  man  like  the  person  mentioned  above,  to  ex- 
claim, "  What  a  sinner  I  am."  And  when  the  con- 
science is  thus  convinced,  O  how  delightful  do  the 
tidings  of  mercy  appear.  Then  the  cross  shines  in 
all  its  glory,  and  the  mind,  however  agitated  before, 
reposes  under  it  with  unspeakable  joy." 

Mr.  Buck's  next  visit  was  to  Farnham,  in  Surry, 
of  which,  and  the  circumstances  which  led  to  it,  he 
gives  the  following  account: 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Gunn  having  been  lately  ejected 
from  his  curacy  at  Farnham,  on  account  of  his  faith* 


8 

he 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  171 

ful  preaching,  multitudes  of  his  hearers,  among 
whom  there  had  been  a  great  work,  went  off  with 
him,  and  were  determined,  if  they  could  not  hear 
the  gospel  in  the  church,  that  they  would  hear  it 
elsewhere.  They  therefore,  by  their  own  contribu- 
tions, and  by  the  liberality  of  the  religious  public, 
uilt  a  very  neat  and  commodious  place*  It  was 
pened  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Wilks,  Ford,  and  Eyre. 
I  was  fixed  upon  to  be  the  first  supply.  I  went  for 
ree  Sabbaths.  The  place  was  well  attended,  and 
e  prospect  very  pleasing.  Lodging  in  the  same 
ouse  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gunn,  we  formed  an  ac- 
quaintance and  friendship  which  continued  till  the 
day  of  his  death;  and  though  he  was  a  very  strong 
Churchman,  he  would  sometimes  come  to  hear  me, 
not  only  at  Farnham,  but  many  years  afterwards  at 
my  place  of  worship  in  London. #  While  at  Farn- 
ham, I  was  requested  to  go  and  preach  at  a  dark 
village,  called  Crondel,  about  three  miles  distant. 
Others  said  it  would  be  dangerous,  as  they  threat- 
ened to  burn  any  person  who  should  make  the  at- 
tempt. I  went,  however,  and  preached  without  much 
opposition,  except  a  little  noise,  particularly  from  a 
blacksmith,  who  hammered  as  hard  as  he  could  on 
one  anvil,  while  I  worked  as  hard  as  I  could  on  an- 

*  Mr.  Gunn  was  not  like  Mr.  Whitefield;  he  paid  very  little 
attention  to  his  dress  and  external  appearance,  but  in  the  pulpit, 
his  sharp  piercing  eye,  his  powerful  addresses  to  the  conscience, 
his  peculiar,  pointed  manner,  and  his  energetic  and  faithful  de- 
claration of  the  truth,  gained  the  attention  in  such  an  astonish- 
ing manner,  that  he  soon  became  very  popular.  Great  numbers 
were  awakened,  especially  young  people,  many  of  whom  have 
joined  other  churches,  in  the  establishment  and  out  of  it. 


172  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

other  of  a  different  kind.  I  was  told  afterwards,  that 
he  threw  down  his  hammer,  and  went  away  for  fear 
of  being  converted.  I  went  a  second  time,  and 
preached  in  a  room;  before  I  began,  a  man  knocked 
at  the  door  about  some  business,  who  had  heard  me 
when  I  was  there  before.  The  owner  of  the  house 
asked  him  to  come  in  and  hear  the  minister  who 
preached  the  other  day.  O  no,  that  he  would  not, 
he  said,  for  what  business  had  he  to  concern  him- 
self about  him,  and  point  him  out  before  all  the  con- 
gregation, (for  I  remember  I  had  pointed  with  my 
finger,  and  said,  that  drunkard,  that  sabbath-break- 
er, that  swearer,  &c.)  and  nothing  could  persuade 
the  man  but  that  I  meant  him,  though  he  was  as- 
sured by  the  owner  of  the  house  that  I  had  never 
known  him,  nor  any  thing  of  him.  Thus  we  see 
how  conscience  sometimes  operates,  and  that  the 
word  of  God  is  like  a  sharp  two-edged  sword. 
Preaching  has  been  continued  since,  more  or  less, 
in  this  place,  and  now  they  have  a  place  of  worship 
erected. 

"  I  visited  Farnham  again,  at  the  close  of  the 
vear,  for  three  Sabbaths,*  and  received  an  invita- 
tion to  settle  among  them,  as  it  was  also  the  wish 
of  Mr.  Gunn;  but  there  being  a  few  things  which 
appeared  tome  as  objections,  and  not  having  finish- 

*  The  people  of  the  town  showed  much  enmity,  and  marked 
the  hearers  as  they  walked  along1,  by  saying-,  "  That's  he,  that's 
he."  Mr.  Wildbore,  jun.  and  myself  happening  to  be  there  on 
Christmas-day,  they  got  hold  of  our  names,  and  talked  of  a 
hunt,  but  they  wished  to  know  which  would  be  turned  out-  the 
buck  or  the  boar. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  173 

ed  my  studies,  I  declined,  and  returned  to  Hox- 
ton." . 

A  few  letters  from   Mr.   Buck's  correspondence 
will  close  the  account  of  this  year. 

No.  XVII. 
"  Walsall,  Staffordshire,  24th  June,  1793. 

"  I  embrace  the  first  opportunity  of  sitting 

down  to  write  to  my  dear  friend,  who  will  not,  I 
am  conscious,  be  reluctant  to  hear  of  my  welfare. 
Yesterday  I  preached  three  times  at  the  chapel  here, 
and  hope  some  received  comfort  through  the  bless- 
ing of  God.  It  is  a  neat  place,  and  computed  to 
hold  about  a  thousand  persons,  but  it  was  not  full. 
The  singing  pleases  me  much.  The  voices  of  some 
of  the  singers  are  so  clear  and  charming,  that  they 
remind  me  of  that  happy  period,  when,  I  humbly 
hope,  I  shall  hear  celestial  music  above.  This  is  a 
thought  I  wish  to  indulge,  and  would  consider  eve- 
ry thing  as  beneficial  that  has  a  tendency  to  lead 
my  meditations  thither.  What  can  be  more  pleasing 
to  the  weary  traveller,  than  the  anticipation  of  his 
desired  rest,  and  what  can  yield  the  true  Christian 
more  happiness,  than  to  look  forward  to  those  climes 
of  undisturbed  and  everlasting  felicity  in  the  world 
to  come?  Will  you  not  join  with  me,  my  dear  friend, 
in  the  delightful  contemplation  of  that  blessed  abode? 
Come,  let  us  soar  together  above  the  transitory 
things  of  this  vain  world,  and  press  towards  the  hea- 
?!  venly  gate.  Let  our  affections  be  there,  and  we  shall 

P  2 


lT4f  MEMOIRS  Of  TffK 

find  it  the  means  of  supporting  us  under  the  vari- 
ous trials  attendant  on  this  mortal  life.  Happy  would 
it  be  for  us,  if  our  hearts  were  more  in  heaven, 
then  should  we  possess  more  of  heaven  in  our 
hearts. 

"  It  is  impossible  to  live  without  meeting  with 
continual  troubles,  but  how  would  they  be  sweeten- 
ed, and  how  little  should  we  complain  under  them, 
had  we  but  a  greater  sense  of  that  joy  which  is  to 
come.  O  let  us  recollect  the  pleasing  time,  when 
the  storm  of  life  shall  cease,  the  gloomy  clouds  dis- 
perse, and  eternal  day  break  in  upon  our  view; 
when  a  glory  more  refulgent  than  ten  thousand  suns 
surround  us,  and  we,  with  myriads  of  angelic  hosts, 
celebrate  the  praises,  and  adore  the  unspeakable 
goodness  of  the  great  Jehovah.  And  will  this  be 
our  employ?  Will  this  be  the  delightful  work  in 
which  we  shall  be  for  ever  engaged?  Let  us  no 
more  then  indulge  the  murmuring  thought,  sit  pen- 
sive at  the  approach  of  expected  trouble,  or  sink  un- 
der the  unwelcome  hand  of  adversity.  The  few 
fleeting  moments  allotted  us  here  will  soon  be  gone, 
and  we  shall  be  brought  into  the  enjoyment  of  that 
rest  which  remains  for  the  people  of  God;  "  all  the 
days  of  our  appointed  time  therefore  let  us  wait,  till 
our  change  come."  In  the  mean  time,  let  us  strive 
to  get  nearer  to  God,  to  know  more  of  him,  depend 
more  upon  him,  do  more  for  him,  rejoice  more  in 
him,  and  live  more  to  him.  It  is  our  privilege  to  be 
always  looking  up  for  his  direction,  and  supplicating 
his  grace;  and,  blessed  be  his  name,  he  will  com- 
municate to  us  every  needful  supply  while  we  are 


s 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  175 

in  the  way.  If  he  has  prepared  a  heaven  for  us,  he 
will  prepare  us  for  heaven;  yea,  he  will  make  all 

ur  crosses,  and  all  our  trials,  subservient  thereto. 

very  stumbling-block  shall  be  removed,  every  ene- 
my conquered,  and  every  difficulty  be  useful.  He 
is  a  safe  guide,  and  a  sure  protection;  by  night  and 
by  day  he  will  exercise  his  tender  regard  toward 
us,  and  though  he  may  suffer  us  to  be  opposed,  de- 
serted, and  tempted  by  the  world,  yet  he  will  lead 
us  by  his  counsel  here,  and  at  last  bring  us  to  glo- 
ry. Let  it  be  our  aim,  therefore,  to  keep  up  commu- 
nion with  him,  for  in  the  light  of  his  countenance 
is  life,  and  his  favour  is  as  the  cloud  of  the  latter 
rain.  If  we  wish  to  have  heaven  upon  earth,  and  to 
be  happy  in  a  miserable  world,  the  only  way  is  to 
implore  his  grace,  to  rely  upon  his  word,  and  to 
live  in  obedience  to  his  divine  command. 
"  I  remain,  my  dear  friend, 

"  Your's  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XVIII. 

«  Walsall,  25th  June,  1793. 

"  Dear  Sister — Be  assured  it  is  with  pleasure  I 
take  up  my  pen  to  write  to  you  a  few  lines.  I  arriv- 
ed safe  here  on  Friday  last  through  a  kind  Provi- 
dence, and  hope  the  air  will  be  serviceable  to  my 
health. 

u  The  country  is  very  pleasant,  and  all  nature 
seems  to  be  alive.  The  fruitful  plains,  the  verdant 
lawns,  and  towering  hills,  have  a  delightful  appear* 


176  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

ance,  while  the  little  choristers  of  the  air,  swell  their 
notes,  and  afford  me  music  harmonious  to  the  ear. 
Here,  retired  from  the  busy  world,  I  can  contem- 
plate the  wonderful  works  of  creation,  and  behold 
infinite  wisdom  displayed  in  every  object  around. 
Here,  in  the  calm  retreat,  in  the  silent  shade,  the 
mind  may  pursue  the  happy  employ  without  inter- 
ruption, and  learn  the  most  useful  lessons  and  the 
most  salutary  instructions.  How  happy  the  man, 
who,  tired  of  the  glittering  toys  and  insipid  plea- 
sures of  this  world,  covets  retirement,  in  order  that 
he  may  be  wise,  that  he  may  turn  his  mind  to  more 
noble  objects,  converse  with  God,  and  look  beyond 
the  changing  scenes  of  this  mortal  life.  But  how  ve- 
ry few  are  there  who  can  look  with  indifference 
upon  all  terrene  things,  who  can  set  their  feet,  as  it 
were,  upon  the  globe,  and  aspire  to  those  joys  which 
are  celestial;  how  great  the  number  who  are  lost  in 
dissipation,  whose  minds  are  enveloped  in  igno- 
rance, and  whose  dispositions  are  vicious  to  the 
greatest  degree.  Surely  man  was  never  formed  thus 
to  debase  his  nature;  his  rational  faculties  were  ne- 
ver given  him  to  be  thus  abused,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, that  he  might  devote  himself  to  the  pursuit 
of  that  Object  to  whom  he  is  under  unspeakable 
obligations,  and  without  the  knowledge  of  whom 
he  can  never  obtain  true  felicity.  The  dictates  of 
reason,  as  well  as  the  scripture,  inform  us  that  it  is 
man's  highest  privilege,  as  well  as  indispensable  du- 
ty, to  live  in  continual  obedience  to  God,  in  whom 
we  live,  move,  and  have  our  being;  but  many  ima- 
gine, that  in  so  doing  they  must  relinquish  all  their 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  1  77 

ippiness,  that  it  will  tend  to  make  them  gloomy, 
and  unfit  them  for  society;  but  what  pleasure  so 
great  as  that  which  is  experienced  in  the  knowledge 
of  God?  what  peace  so  permanent  as  that  which  is 
the  result  of  being  acquainted  with  him?  what  ho- 
nour so  desirable  as  that  which  the  King  of  kings 
confers  on  all  his  willing  and  obedient  subjects? 
what  reward  so  glorious  and  lasting  as  that  which 
will  be  given  to  all  those  that  love  him?  Let  us  for 
ever  therefore,  consider  religion  as  the  only  source 
of  true  satisfaction,  and  never  rest  contented  but 
when  we  are  under  its  influence.  Well  for  us  if  we 
can  say  with  the  poet,  when  speaking  of  religion,  and 
the  Author  of  it, 

"  Thou,  my  all, 

My  theme, my  inspiration,  and  my  crown; 
My  strength  in  age,  my  rise  in  low  estate, 
My  soul's  ambition,  pleasure,  wealth;  my  world, 
My  boast  through  time,  bliss  through  eternity." 

Young. 

Noble  declarations  these;   may  we  be  blessed  with 

Guch   principles,     and   may   the    Gud    of   heaven  and 

earth  be  the  delight  of  our  hearts,  and  the  theme  of 
our  song  for  ever.  I  must  now  conclude,  only  wish- 
ing you,  with  myself,  to  be  interested  in  his  love, 
who  only  can  make  us  happy. 

*'  I  remain  your  affectionate  Brother, 


1^8  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

No.  XIX. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wills,  Islington. 

"  Walsall,  26th  June,  1793. 
"  My  dear  Sir, — Through  mercy  I  arrived  safe 
at  my  journey's  end,  and  have  reason  to  be  thankful 
for  it,  as  we  were  exposed  to  some  little  danger  by 
the  way.  The  coachman,  about  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  being  as  we  supposed,  intoxicated,  fell 
asleep,  and  was  thrown  from  the  coach-box;  they 
said  he  pitched  upon  his  head,  and  was  very  near 
being  under  the  wheel.  He  was  some  time  before  he 
recovered,  and  appeared  to  be  much  hurt;  providen- 
tially there  was  a  postillion,  or  we  might  have  been 
overturned.  We  had  a  fresh  coachman  in  about 
another  mile,  who  was  a  sober  man  and  drove  with 
care.  I  found  myself  rather  uncomfortable  for  the 
first  two  or  three  days,  being  a  stranger  to  all  the 
people.  They  have  here  one  of  the  neatest  chapels  I 
ever  saw,  said  to  contain  upwards  of  a  thousand 
persons;  but  it  is  not  full,  though  there  is  a  prospect 
of  an  increase,  had  they  but  a  minister  they  approv- 
ed of.  They  have  preaching  three  times  on  a  sab- 
bath, and  once  in  the  week,  but  I  should  like  it  bet- 
ter, were  it  twice  on  the  sabbath,  and  twice  in  the 
week,  as  it  would  better  suit  my  constitution;  how- 
ever I  hope  my  feeble  endeavours  will  be  rendered 
successful  among  them;  then  shall  I  have  reason  to 
be  grateful,  and  find  something  to  encourage  me  in 
the  important  work.  I  am  often  dejected,  because  I 
think  I  am  not  useful  in  my  Master's  service;  but  yet 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  1/9 

I  know  not  how  to  relinquish  the  work,   though  I 
have  many  times  thought  of  doing  it.   My  opportu- 
nities of  preaching  while  at  the  academy,  have  not, 
I  trust,  been  a  little  serviceable  in  keeping  up  a  live- 
liness   as    to  spiritual   things.     Human    literature, 
though  useful,  yet  how  many  lose  a  sense  of  divine 
things  in  the  acquisition  of  it;  and  what  is  a  student, 
what  is  a  minister,  without  this?   Methinks  the  world 
is  a  wilderness  without  communion  with  God,  and 
every  thing  must  bear  a  gloomy  aspect,  if  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness  doth  not  shed  his    genial  influences 
upon  us.   O  that  I  could  find  more  of  his  love  shed 
abroad  in  my  heart;  but,  alas!  my  corruptions  rise, 
and  intervene  between  God  and  my  soul,  and  pre- 
vent my  rejoicing  in  him,  as    I  wish  to  do.   I  find 
nothing  satisfactory  but  the  light  of  his  countenance. 
Liberty  is    dear,    friends    are    blessings,    temporal 
mercies  desirable,  but  what  are   these  without  my 
God?   If  he  do  not  smile,  all  is  darkness,  all  distress; 
my  pleasure  is  turned  into  pain,  my  day  into  night, 
my  temple  songs  into  bitter  lamentations.   Whither 
can  I  go,  and  how  shall  I  obtain  relief  for  my  im- 
mortal soul?   But  if  he  be  pleased  to  remove  the  vail, 
to  break  in  upon  the  mind;   O,  how  sweet  the  mo- 
ments, how  happy  the  hours,  how  pleasant  the  time 
glides  along!  Then  afflictions  appear  as  favours,  ad- 
verse dispensations  as  friends,   and  every  trial  as 
sent  in  love.  May  you,  dear  Sir,  be  favoured  with 
his  blessing,  be  still  more  useful  in  his  cause,  and  at 
last  be  brought  to  the  enjoyment  of  him  in  glory,  is 
the  earnest  prayer  of  your  unworthy,  but  willing 
servant,  "  C.  B." 


IS®  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

No.  XX. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wills,  Islington. 

"  Walsall,  22d  July,  1F93. 
"  My  dear  Sir, — I  consider  myself  much  honour- 
ed in  the  receipt,  and  was  peculiarly  gratified  in  the 
perusal,  of  your  kind  letter,  wherein  you  encourage 
me  to  go  forward,  by  pointing  me  to  the  great  Head 
of  the  Church,  from  whom  all  strength  is  to  be  de- 
rived. Indeed,  I  find  I  can  do  nothing  without  him; 
he  is  the  fountain  of  all  true  felicity,  and  the  only 
source  of  help.  And  as  you  observe,  the  more  we 
know  of  him,  the  more  humble,  the  more  faithful 
we  shall  be  as  ministers  of  the  gospel.  It  is  an  un- 
speakable blessing  while  we  preach  him  to  others,  to 
experience  the  power  of  his  grace  in  ourselves:  will 
not,  dear  sir,  the  sweet  communications  of  his  love 
and  spirit,  make  the  most  experimental  and  useful 
preachers,  as  well  as  humble  and  happy  Christians? 
Surely  to  be  favoured  with  his  presence,  to  be  under 
his  influence,  and  to  be  able  constantly  to  live  near 
to  him,  must  constitute  a  kind  of  heaven  upon  earth. 
Ah!  could  I  but  dwell  under  his  smiles;  could  I  but 
taste  more  of  his  love,  my  heart  would  not  be  so  un- 
affected, my  mind  would  not  be  so  barren,  my  steps 
would  not  be  so  slow,  my  corruptions  would  not  be 
so  prevalent.  But,  alas!  though  I  preach  of  this  dear 
Redeemer,  yet  how  little  do  I  know  and  feel.  O  that 
he  were  more  the  object  of  my  affections,  the  topic 
of  my  conversation,  the  joy  of  my  heart.  Sure  I  am, 
we  cannot  love  him  too  much  here,  we  cannot  go  in» 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  181 

to  an  extreme.  Our  attachment  to  the  world,  to  the 
creature,  to  self,  may  be  excessive;  but  here  our 
hearts  cannot  be  too  closely  fixed,  here  the  noble 
affection  cannot  be  indulged  too  much,  Happy  the 
man  that  can  say,  '  whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee, 
and  there  is  none  on  earth  I  desire  beside  thee;  thou 
art  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for 
ever.'  May  I  be  blessed  with  such  a  disposition, 
and  enjoy  such  an  experience,  and  I  want  no  more. 
"  I  remain,  dear  Sir, 
u  Ever  your's  most  affectionately, 

"C.  B." 


No.  XXI. 

"  Walsall,  24th  July,  1793. 
"  Ought  you  not  to  suffer  some  degree  of  punish- 
ment, for  delaying  to  answer  my  last.  How  wish- 
fully did  I  look  for  a  letter  before  it  came.  I  be- 
gan to  be  uneasy,  not  knowing  but  something  was 
the  matter,  till  I  heard  from  Mr.  Cureton,  who  as- 
sured me  you  were  well.  However  your's  came  to 
hand,  the  perusal  of  which  gave  me  pleasure,  espe- 
cially as  it  showed  me  that  Eliza  has  a  capacity,  to 
use  her  pen  profitably,  when  she  has  a  will.  I  have 

had  a  pleasing  epistle  from   Mr.  W ,  and  one 

from   my   old   friend  C ,  which  you  shall  see 

when  an  interview  is  practicable,  but  will  you  be 
angry  if  I  tell  you,  I  expect  to  stay  a  week  or  two 
longer  than  I  first  engaged  for?  I  mean  to  go  into 
Gloucestershire,  if  I  can,  before  I  come  to  London; 
but  have  three  sabbaths  yet  to  stay  here.  The  Lord 

Q 


182  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

has  wonderfully  strengthened  me  for  the  work  while 
here;  but  yet  I  do  not  know  that  ever  I  wished  to 
see  my  London  friends  so  much  as  now.  How  it 
will  be,  if  in  time  to  come,  I  should  be  called  to 
settle  at  a  distance  from  them,  I  cannot  tell,  but 
wish  to  be  resigned  to  my  heavenly  Father's  plea- 
sure, and  to  know  no  will  but  his.  Ah,  it  is  well, 
when  we  can  leave  all  to  his  care,  and  trust  him 
with  every  concern.  Happy  would  it  be  for  us,  had 
we  but  more  faith;  then  would  there  be  more  sub- 
mission, more  contentment,  and  under  all  the  dis- 
pensations of  providence,  we  should  be  able  to  say, 
"  It  is  well."  But  blessed  be  God,  whatever  are  our 
frames,  and  however  we  may  complain  that  we  can- 
not live  so  near  to  him,  and  depend  so  much  upon 
him  as  we  ought,  yet  he  will  still  carry  on  his  work. 
He  will  not  leave  us,  though  we  have  such  a  pro- 
pensity to  leave  him,  but  will  perfect  that  which 
concerns  us.  His  promises  are  numerous,  his  arm 
is  strong  on  our  behalf;  let  us  then  hope  in  him. 
Afflictions  and  trials  we  must  bear;  but  they  shall 
be  profitable,  though  not  pleasant.  Hence  saith  the 
apostle,  '  though  no  chastening  for  the  present  seem- 
eth  to  be  joyous,  but  grievous,  nevertheless,  after- 
ward it  yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteous- 
ness unto  them  which  are  exercised  thereby. '  And 
we  are  not  to  think  our  afflictions  come  at  random; 
they  are  not  sent  to  be  useless.  I  have  no  doubt  but 
what  every  believer  hath  his  particular  cross  assign- 
ed him,  and  the  Lord  knows  how  long  he  is  to  be 
under  the  rod;  we  must  not  conclude  that  every 
thing  is  left  to  mere  chance,  but  rather  ordered  and 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  183 

directed  by  an  all-wise  God,  for  the  good  of  his 
people.  Let  the  consideration  of  this,  therefore, 
cheer  our  hearts  in  the  midst  of  our  difficulties,  and 
teach  us  to  commit  our  way  unto  the  Lord;  i  trust 
also  in  him,  and  he  shall  bring  it  to  pass.'  May  you 
be  under  his  care,  kept  by  his  power,  and  comforted 
by  his  spirit,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of, 

"  Your's  most  affectionately, 

«  C.  B." 


No.  XXII. 

"  Walsall,  August  1,  1793. 
w  My  dear  Friend — You  are,  I  hope,  well  in 
every  respect;  not  only  healthy  in  body,  but  pros- 
pering in  soul.  It  is  well  when  surrounded  with  SQ 
many  privileges,  and  favoured  with  so  many  mer- 
cies, if  the  mind  is  kept  fixed  upon  the  right  ob- 
ject, and  we  humbly  lying  at  the  feet  of  our  dear 
Redeemer.  We  too  often  serve  the  Lord  in  a  cus- 
tomary, formal  manner,  and  our  hearts  are  unaffect- 
ed in  that  employment,  which  is  so  noble,  and  those 
exercises,  which  are  so  honourable  and  delightful. 
Ah!  have  we  not  reason  to  complain  of  our  barren- 
ness, and  to  mourn  over  the  depravity  and  insensi- 
bility of  our  hearts;  and  though  we  profess  to  love 
the  Lord  above  all  earthly  joy,  yet  how  cold,  how 
lukewarm  are  we  frequently  found!  Are  we  not 
empty  vines,  bringing  forth  fruit  unto  ourselves?  Ho- 
sea  x.  1.  What  darkness  upon  the  mind;  what  in- 
difference about  the  best  things:  however,  let  us  not 
despair.  If  the  Lord  had  meant  to  have  destroyed 


184  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 

us,  (Judges  xiii.  23.)  surely  we  should  not  have  felt 
our  deadness;  sin  would  not  have  been  such  a  bur- 
den; we  should  not  mourn  so  much  in  the  absence 
of  our  God.  We  must  not,  therefore,  give  up,  but 
though  faint,  yet  pursue;  though  weak,  yet  proceed. 
The  way  is  dark,  but  God  is  our  light;  it  is  diffi- 
cult, but  he  is  our  strength;  it  is  dangerous,  but  he 
is  our  safe-guard.  Let  us  then  supplicate  for  more 
faith  to  believe  in  and  depend  upon  him.  It  is  for 
want  of  this  we  are  so  weary:   hence,,  says  one, 

"  True,  'tis  a  straight  and  thorny  road, 

And  mortal  spirits  tire  and  faint; 
But  they  forget  the  mighty  God 

That  feeds  the  strength  of  every  saint." 

Watts. 

Iret  us  go,  therefore,  with  humble  boldness,  unto 
"  the  throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy  and 
find  grace  to  help  us  in  time  of  need."  He  is  will- 
ing to  hear,  if  we  are  willing  to  pray.  If  we  wish  to 
conquer  our  enemies,  and  to  go  on  comfortably,  it 
must  be  by  carrying  on  correspondence  with  God: 
he  that  is  most  in  prayer  will  be  least  in  danger,  and 
continual  supplication  is  the  way  to  receive  inces- 
sant consolation:  God  will  regard  those  that  apply 
to  him;  they  may  wait,  but  it  shall  not  be  in  vain. 
Ten  thousand  thanks  be  to  his  dear  name;  he  never 
yet  disappointed  the  soul  that  looked  to  him  for  sup- 
port and  comfort,  neither  will  he  ever  forget  the 
people  of  his  choice,  the  purchase  of  his  blood,  the 
joy  of  his  heart,  and  the  object  of  his  love.  O!  let 
us  take   courage,  and  again  look  toward  his  holy 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  185 

temple.  Vile,  wretched,  and  miserable  as  we  are,  he 
has  promised  to  look  upon,  and  be  gracious  unto  us. 
That  you  may  be  blessed  with  the  light  of  his  coun- 
tenance, and  be  favoured  with  the  influences  of  his 
spirit,  is  the  sincere  desire  and  earnest  prayer  of 
your  unworthy,  but  willing  servant, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XXIII. 


"Walsall,  9th  August,  1793. 

*' I  cannot  help  thinking  how  pleasant  it  is 

to  hear  from  those  we  love,  and  how  grateful  we 
should  be,  that  we  have  the  means  of  communicat- 
ing our  thoughts  to  each  other,  though  at  a  distance. 
How  kind  in  Providence,  thus  to  accommodate  us, 
and  enable  us  by  the  art  of  writing  to  make  known 
our  feelings,  and  to  converse  with  each  other  while 
our  persons  are  separated.  This  is  kindness  perhaps 
which  many  overlook,  and  ascribe  all  to  the  inge- 
nuity of  man,  instead  of  adoring  that  all-wise  God, 
without  whose  direction  nothing  can  be  done.  How- 
ever, let  me  be  thankful  to  him  for  such  a  blessing. 
You  send  me  the  happy  intelligence  of  the  Lord's 
gracious  manifestations  to  your  soul.  Blissful  pe- 
riods are  those,  when  he  shines  upon  and  reveals 
himself  to  us.  When  under  his  smiles,  what  satis- 
faction we  enjoy:  how  permanent  the  peace,  how 
unspeakable  the  joy:  and  indeed  what  are  all  terres- 
trial things  without  it?  Nothing,  you  know,  is  ade- 
quate to  our  desires,  or  sufficient  for  our  happiness, 
when  deprived  of  his  divine  presence.  No. — 
Q2 


186  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

The  most  extensive  kingdoms,  the  brightest  gems, 
nor  all  the  fair  beauties  of  creation,  nor  ten  thousand 
worlds  at  command,  could  for  a  moment  produce  the 
joy  we  want,  or  alleviate  the  pain  we  feel,  when  he 
withdraws.  Blessed  God!  Be  thou  therefore  near 
unto  us,  and  never  let  the  corruptions  of  our  hearts, 
©r  the  vanities  of  our  conduct,  cause  thee  to  with- 
hold what  we  count  our  joy,  our  life,  our  heaven, 
our  all. 

"  I  have  lately  been  reading  the  "  Christian  Cha- 
racter exemplified,  from  the  papers  of  Mrs.  Marga- 
ret Magdalen  A s,"  which  I  think  you  have  in 

your  library.  Never  did  I  peruse  any  thing  with 
more  pleasure.  Tears  flowed  from  my  eyes  whilst  I 
read.  The  descriptions  of  the  affection  she  bore  to 
her  husband,  tenderness  to  her  children,  loss  of  her 
brother,  and  patience  in  affliction,  are  truly  pathetic, 
while  her  tenderness  of  conscience,  and  desire  of 
living  to  the  glory  of  her  dear  Lord,  are  manifest  in 
every  page.  I  think  it  excels  most  publications  of 
the  kind — such  elevation  of  thought,  and  yet  such 
simplicity,  that  it  cannot  fail  of  engaging  the  atten- 
tion. The  letter  to  a  friend  on  the  marriage  state,  is 
truly  admirable,  and  ought  to  be  read  by  all  that 
enter  into  that  state,  or  at  least  by  every  female  who 
would  wish  to  enjoy  and  augment  connubial  happi- 
ness. 

"  I  cannot  imagine  who  brought  you  the  false  in- 
formation of  my  indisposition.  Thanks  be  to  my 
kind  and  heavenly  Father,  my  health  is  nearly  the 
same  as  when  I  left  London.  I  have  great  reason  to 
be  grateful  for  the  preservation  and  protection,  love 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  187 

and  goodness,  manifested  unto  me.  O  help  me  to 
praise  him,  and  above  all,  do  not  forget  to  pray  for 
one  who  is  not  unmindful  of  you  at  a  throne  of 
grace. 

"  I  remain,  your's  sincerely, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XXIV. 
Rev.  Mr.  Wilted  Islington. 

"  Walsall,  10th  August,  1793. 
"  My  dear  Sir — Your  last  gives  me  the  unpleas- 
ing  intelligence  of  your  indisposition.  I  hope  by  this 
time  you  are  perfectly  recovered,  and  able  to  resume 
your  delightful  work  of  preaching  the  everlasting 
gospel  to  poor  sinners.  I  know  every  intermission 
of  this  kind  is  painful  to  you,  as  it  is  your  earnest 
desire  incessantly  to  be  employed  in  your  Master's 
service;  but  you  are  not  insensible  of  the  wisdom 
and  kindness  of  him  who  sometimes  afflicts  the  body 
for  the  profit  of  the  mind.  It  would  be  presumptu- 
ous for  me,  a  young  beginner,  to  say  any  thing  on 
this  head,  to  one  who  has  been  so  long  a  faithful  la- 
bourer, and  whose  experience  is  so  far  superior;  yet 
I  cannot  help  observing  the  old  and  golden  truth, 
that  all  things  shall  work  together  for  good  to  them 
that  love  God,  and  are  the  called  according  to  his 
purpose;  while  I  add  my  prayer  that  your  animal 
frame  may  be  reinvigorated,  your  days  lengthened, 
and  your  usefulness  still  more  extensive.  I  am  as- 
tonished at  the  account  you  give  me  of  Mr.  S 


188  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

Surely  he  had  forgotten  himself,  or  rather  his  Mas- 
ter, whose  love  he  had  then  an  opportunity  of  de- 
claring on  so  divine  a  subject.  How  he  could  treat  of 
salvation  without  considering  the  author  of  it  I  know 
not;  indeed  you  might  well  say,  "  Alas,  my  brother!" 
for  how  grievous  is  it  to  find  those  who  pretend  to 
discuss  gospel  topics,  neglect  the  foundation,  yea,  the 
very  foundation  on  which  we  place  our  happiness, 
our  safety,  our  all.  Take  away  this,  we  are  undone, 
our  hope  is  cut  off,  and  nothing  but  despair,  endless 
despair  must  ensue.  Well,  therefore,  may  every 
faithful  minister  say,  "  Let  my  right  hand  forget  her 
cunning  when  I  forget  thee,  O  my  Saviour."  "  God 
forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ."  And  as  there  is  no  salvation 
but  through  him,  certainly  he  should  be  the  boast  of 
our  tongues,  and  the  joy  of  our  hearts.  We  cannot 
repeat  his  love  in  too  fervent  a  manner;  we  cannot 
be  too  strenuous  in  defending  his  cause;  we  cannot 
be  too  diligent  in  recommending  his  goodness, 
setting  forth  his  excellencies,  and  declaring  his  abi- 
lity and  willingness  to  receive  the  vilest  sinners.  O! 
that  his  glory  may  ever  be  in  my  view,  his  Spirit 
teaching  my  heart,  his  word  influencing  my  conduct; 
yea,  may  he  be  my  all  in  all.  All  in  my  conversation, 
my  preaching,  my  life,  my  death. 
"  I  remain,  dear  Sir, 

"  Your  willing  and  obedient  servant, 

"  C.  B." 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  189 


No.  XXV. 


"  Farnham,  Surrey,  18lh  October,  1793. 
u  The  chapel  was  opened  on  Wednesday,  and  we 
had  a  large  company,  and  an  agreeable  day.  The 
place  is  very  neat,  and  perhaps  will  contain  seven 
hundred  persons  when  crowded.  They  have  set  out 
on  the  methodist  plan,  of  having  prayers  read, 
which  they  think  will  draw  many  of  the  thoughtless 
people  of  the  town;  but  it  is  a  question  with  me, 
whether  they  will  not  look  with  as  much  contempt 
upon  a  methodist  chapel  as  upon  a  dissenting  meet- 
ing. I  have  told  them  my  thoughts  on  the  business. 
However,  I  rejoice  that  here  is  a  house  erected  for 
the  preaching  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  and  I  hope 
many  souls  will  have  reason  to  bless  God  for  it  to 
all  eternity.  Yesterday  I  opened  my  commission  in 
this  country.  I  preached  out  of  doors  at  a  place 
called  Crondal,  three  miles  from  hence.  We  all  ex- 
pected to  meet  with  much  opposition,  and  some 
were  faint-hearted  about  it,  as  such  a  thing  was  so 
uncommon  in  that  place.  However,  we  went,  and  a 
good  congregation  we  had.  The  devil  wanted  to 
disturb  us,  but  he  was  chained,  and  we  got  through 
without  much  opposition.  Who  can  tell  but  that 
some  poor  soul  may  be  led  to  think  about  the  best 
things,  and  be  brought  to  a  saving  knowledge  of  the 
truth!  People  may  say  what  they  please  against 
this  mode  of  preaching,  but  I  am  confident  it  is  the 
way  to  do  much  good.  Most  ministers  of  the  esta- 
blishment, and  many  among  the  dissenters,  are  no 
great  advocates-  for  it;  but  such,  methinks,  prove 


190  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 

themselves  to  be  more  fearful  than  zealous.  Souls 
are  immortal,  and  precious;  time  is  short  and  fleet- 
ing. It  becomes  us  therefore  to  use  every  mean  for 
the  promotion  of  the  gospel,  and  the  welfare  of  ne- 
ver-dying souls.  I  must  say,  that  I  think  the  mc- 
thodist  ministers  are  most  praiseworthy  in  this  re- 
spect, though  many  of  them  are  more  warm  than 
wise.  They  give  up  their  good  names,  their  reputa- 
tion among  men;  they  deny  themselves,  they  mor- 
tify their  feelings,  and  go  forth  boldly  into  the  high- 
ways and  hedges,  and  compel  poor  sinners  to  come 
in.  Noble  characters!  Valuable  men!  Of  more  worth 
than  the  wisest  politicians,  profoundest  philoso- 
phers, or  ablest  warriors  that  ever  existed.  O!  that 
I  had  a  warmer  heart,  a  wiser  head,  a  more  power- 
ful voice,  then  methinks  I  should  like  to  go  through 
the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature* 

•  The  following  observations  of  Lord  Byron  will  rescue  this 
method  of  teaching  from  that  disgrace  which  the  squeamish 
fastidiousnes  of  some  persons  have  attached  to  it. 

"  It  is  to  be  recollected,  that  the  most  beautiful  and  impres- 
sive doctrines  of  the  divine  Founder  of  Christianity  were  deli- 
vered, not  in  the  Temple,  but  on  the  Mount. 

"  To  wave  the  question  of  devotion,  and  turn  to  human  elo- 
quence,— the  most  effectual  and  splendid  specimens  were  not 
pronounced  within  walls.  Demosthenes  addressed  the  public 
and  popular  assemblies;  Cicero  spoke  in  the  forum.  That  this 
added  to  their  effect  on  the  minds  of  both  orator  and  hearers, 
may  be  conceived  from  the  difference  between  what  we  read 
of  the  emotions  then  and  there  produced,  and  those  we  ourselves 
experience  in  the  perusal  in  the  closet.  It  is  one  thing  to  read 
the  Iliad  at  Sigseum  and  on  the  tumuli,  or  by  the  springs,  with 
Mount  Ida  above,  and  the  plains,  and  rivers,  and  the  Archipela- 
go round  you:  and  another  to  trim  your  taper  over  it  in  a  snu£ 
library; — this  I  know, 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  191 

The  characters  of  a  Whitefield,  a  Wesley,  a  Cen- 
nick,  a  Hill,  and  a  Wills,  are  ever  to  be  admired  for 
the  good  they  have  been  the  instruments  of  doing 
this  way.  May  God  send  more  such  into  his  vine- 
yard, to  call  the  poor  wandering  sheep  to  the  fold 
of  the  Great  Shepherd.  And  now  let  me  intreat 
you  to  intersede  for  me  at  a  throne  of  grace,  that  in 
the  little  circle  in  which  I  move  I  may  be  a  bless- 
ing, and  the  means  of  communicating  good  to  my 
fellow-mortals,  and  that  while  I  am  instructing 
others,  I  myself  may  be  under  the  teachings  of  the 
good  Spirit  of  God,  without  which  all  will  be  in 
vain.  Happy  shall  I  be  in  the  last  day,  to  find  my- 
self the  spiritual  father  of  a  numerous  offspring; 
then  shall  all  the  glory  be  ascribed  to  our  God,  for 
ever  and  ever.   Amen. 

"  I  remain, 
"  Your's  constantly  and  willingly, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XXVI. 
"  Farnham,  Surrey,  23d  October,  1793. 
"  I  hope  by  this  time  your  minds  are  a  little  more 
composed,  and  that  the  Lord  hath  been  your  com- 
forter and  support.    Distressing,    very  distressing 

«  Were  the  early  and  rapid  progress  of  what  is  called  Me- 
thodism to  be  attributed  to  any  cause  beyond  the  enthusiasm  ex- 
cited by  its  vehement  faith  and  doctrines,  (the  truth  or  error  of 
which  1  presume  neither  to  canvas  nor  to  question,)  I  should  ven- 
ture to  ascribe  it  to  the  practice  of  preaching  in  the  folds*  and 
the  unstudied  and  extemporaneous  effusions  of  its  teachers." 
Byron,  jYotes  to  3d  Canto  of  Childe  Hcirdd. 


192  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

was  the  late  dispensation  of  Providence,  and  those 
who  were  possessed  of  the  least  degree  of  sensibili- 
ty, must  have  felt  for,  and  sympathized  with  you. 
However,  what  an  unspeakable  advantage  is  it  that 
you,  with  all  the  people  of  God,  have  access  to  a 
throne  of  grace,  under  all  circumstances,  and  in  all 
situations.  Were  it  not  for  this,  what  could  we  do 
when  the  world  condemns,  when  Providence  frowns, 
and  when  numerous  trials  and  afflictions  surround 
us;  but  God  is  pleased,  though  he  is  the  high  and 
lofty  One  that  inhabiteth  eternity,  though  he  is  en- 
compassed with  unspeakable  grandeur,  and  dwells 
in  ineffable  glory,  I  say  he  is  pleased  to  look  down 
upon  those  who  make  known  their  supplications  to 
him,  and  hath  promised  to  hear  their  cries,  and  re- 
lieve them  in  their  distress.  Let  us  then,  my  dear 
friends,  go  with  boldness  to  the  Lord,  that  we  may 
obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  us  in  time  of 
need.  Let  us  have  less  to  do  with  earth,  and  more 
with  heaven.  Let  it  be  our  ambition  to  keep  up 
communion  with  God.  Let  us  endeavour  to  estrange 
ourselves  from  the  creature,  to  maintain  a  happy  in- 
timacy with  the  Creator.  It  is  the  glory  of  angelic 
beings,  and  of  all  the  saints  in  the  celestial  world, 
to  get  near  and  be  like  to  him,  whose  presence  is 
heaven;  and  in  proportion  as  we  are  conformed  to, 
and  have  his  divine  image  impressed  upon  our  souls, 
will  be  our  felicity.  No  trials  that  come,  no  enemies 
that  oppose,  no  clouds  of  sorrow  that  arise,  can 
hinder  him  from  manifesting  his  love,  and  making 
us  happy  with  his  smiles,  if  faith  is  in  exercise. 
-Like  the  glorious  sun,  he  will  break  through  all, 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  193 


and  shine  with  resplendent  rays,  to  gladden  our  dis- 
consolate hearts,  and  discover  to  us  the  path  of  safe- 
ty, wherein  we  should  walk,  till  at  last  we  arrive  at 
our  desired  rest. 

But,  should  not  the  recent  instance  of  mortality, 
remind  us  of  that  period,  when  the  King  of  terrors 
will  be  commanded  to  unlock  the  gates  and  break 
down  the  walls  of  our  earthly  tabernacles,  that  the 
ncble  inhabitant,  the  never-dying  spirit,  may  be  no 
longer  confined,  but  wing  its  way  to  an  eternal  worktf 
Ah  me,  what  an  awful  thought!  The  shroud,  the 
coffin,  the  grave,  must  soon  be  our  lot!  Gloomy  idea; 
we  that  are  alive  and  well  to-day,  in  a  little  time 
must  be  deposited  among  the  dead;  a  prey  to  in- 
sects, an  offence  to  man!  But  stop,  is  this  all?  Are 
our  meditations  to  be  confined  here?  No.  Thanks 
be  to  our  gracious  Redeemer,  we  can  look  further 
than  these  things;  and  though  nature  trembles  at  an 
opening  grave,  grace  can  enable  us  to  see  a  land  on 
the  other  side  Jordan,  where  death  has  no  power. 
Why  then  should  we  startle  at  the  thought  of  disso- 
lution? Being  interested  in  the  favour  of  him  who 
hath  taken  away  the  enemy's  sting;  surely  we  may 
long  for  the  day,  when  the  silver  cord  of  life  shall 
be  loosened,  and  we  set  at  everlasting  liberty.  O 
transporting  thought!  are  we  not  lost  in  the  view  of 
that  glory,  which  will  surround  us,  when  our  eyes 
will  be  dazzled  with  the  splendours  of  heaven,  our 
minds  awed  with  the  grandeur  of  God,  and  our 
souls  absorbed  in  the  contemplation  of  his  infinite 
love  and  grace.  Lord  grant  that  I  may  behold  it. 
"  I  remain  your  affectionate 

R  "  C.  B."> 


194  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

.  One  of  the  "labours  of  love"  with  which  Mr» 
Buck  commenced  the  year  1794,  was  the  following 
letter  to  an  afflicted  friend: 

No.  XXVII. 

"  Farnham,  Jan.  1,  1794. 
"  I  hope,  through  a  divine  blessing,  Mrs.  P.  is 
much  recovered,  and  that  the  Lord  has  sanctified 
the  affliction  of  body  to  the  prosperity  of  the  soul. 
To  be  under  almost  continual  pain  must  be  no  small 
trial;  but  the  Lord  can  give  strength  and  grace  suf- 
ficient to  bear  it  without  murmuring.  To  him, 
therefore,  ought  we  to  look  in  every  time  of  pain 
and  distress;  and  blessed  be  his  name,  he  is  a  wise 
Physician,  who  can  heal  not  only  the  diseases  of  the 
animal  frame,  but  the  maladies  of  the  immortal  spi- 
rit. It  is  only  for  him  to  speak  the  word,  and  we 
shall  be  made  whole!  His  power  is  adequate,  his 
grace  is  sufficient  to  remove  every  thing  that  clogs 
the  vital  part,  that  hinders  our  hungering  and  thirst- 
ing after  righteousness.  He  knows  our  situation 
better  than  we  do  ourselves,  and  what  will  be  the 
most  effectual  remedies  for  us  in  our  spiritual  sick- 
ness. We  often  are  seeking  for  those  things  which 
we  imagine  will  be  useful;  but  the  Lord  shows  us 
that  they  are  of  no  value,  and  that  nothing  will  do 
except  he  comes  with  his  sovereign  balm  to  heal  our 
wounds,  to  strengthen  and  support  our  souls  during 
our  earthly  pilgrimage.  "  O  Lord,  heal  us  and  we 
shall  be  healed,  save  us  and  we  shall  be  saved." 

"  But,  whilst  I  am  writing  this  letter,  I  cannot  help 
reflecting    on    the    mercy    and    goodness   of    our 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  195 

God  in  preserving  us  to  the  beginning  of  a  new 
year.  O!  how  many  have  been  cut  down  as  cumber- 
ers  of  the  ground,  and  sent  into  eternity  since  the 
beginning  of  the  last  year,  and  yet  we  are  spared! 
Let  us  look  back  to  the  last  year,  and  consider  how 
many  blessings,  how  many  privileges  we  have  enjoy- 
ed, how  many  evils  we  have  escaped,  how  oft   the 
Lord  has  kindly  stepped  in  to  our  assistance,  when 
our  feet  had  well  nigh  slipped;  how  hath  he  enabled 
us  to  fight  under  his  banner,  and  to  be   more   than 
conquerors  over  all  our  spiritual  enemies,  while  thou- 
sands have  been  left  to  perish  in  want  and  in  their 
sins.  Surely  we  have  reason  to  u  Bless  the  Lord,  O 
our  souls,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits.  The  lines 
are  fallen  to  us  in  pleasant  places,  we  have  a  good- 
ly heritage."   But,  let  us  take  another  view,  and  that 
is   in  reference  to  ourselves.   How  little  have   we 
lived  to  the  glory  of  God  the  past  year,  how  many 
precious  moments  have  we  lost,  how  little  valued 
our  privileges  and  blessings,  how  little  has  been  our 
improvement  in  proportion  to  the  means  we  have 
enjoyed,  how  dull  have  our  capacities  been,  and  how 
few  spiritual  lessons  have  we  learned  from  the  ca- 
lamities that  have  happened,  the   catastrophes  we 
have  heard  of,  or  even  the  circumstances  that  have 
transpired  within  our  own  circle!   How  indifferent 
have  we  been  about  the  best  things,  and  how  insen- 
sible of  the  loving-kindness  of  our  God!   Whatever, 
my  dear  friends,  may  be  your  feelings,  upon  this 
retrospect,  for  my  own  part  I  must  say,  "  God  be 
merciful  to    me  a  sinner!"  But,  should  the  Lord 
spare  us  yet  a  little  longer,  let  us  consider  what  we 


196  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

can  do  to  promote  his  glory.  Let  us  look  upon  our 
moments  as  of  more  worth  than  gold,  and  endea- 
vour to  improve  them  to  the  best  advantage.  And 
as  a  new  year  will  bring  new  difficulties,  let  us  be 
imploring  the  blessing  of  our  God,  that  he  may  be 
our  director,  keeper,  preserver,  and  friend;  and 
should  we  die  this  year,  may  we  be  able  to  look  at 
death  with  composure,  and  at  last  be  found  in  the 
mansions  of  eternal  glory,  to  adore  and  praise  our 
God  for  ever  and  ever.  I  now  remain,  my  dear 
friend,  your's  affectionatelv  and  sincerely, 

"C.  B." 

The  ensuing  letter  is  addressed  to  his  mother, 
and  those  which  follow  to  different  friends. 

No.  XXVIII. 

"  Farnham,  January  2,  1794. 
"  I  could  not  get  an  opportunity  to  come  and  see 
you  before  I  left  town,  but  I  suppose  you  have 
heard  of  my  being  here.  The  chapel  where  I  now 
preach  is  exceedingly  neat,  and  when  quite  finished 
will  hardly  be  equalled  by  any  in  London  of  the 
size.  The  congregation  are  continually  giving  me 
invitations  to  stay,  but  I  do  not  think  I  shall  com- 
ply with  them,  as  the  work  will  be  rather  too  much 
for  my  constitution.  I  have  been  very  poorly  since 
I  have  been  here:  I  hope  you  are  well  in  health, 
and  happy  in  mind.  The  infirmities  of  old  age  be- 
gin to  come  upon  you,  and  you  sometimes  think, 
perhaps,  of  the  time  when  you  must  give  up  all 
things  here,   and  enter  into  another  world.   I  hope 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  197 

ie  thought  will  not  appear  terrific  to  you,  though 
distressing  it  must  be  to  your  children.  However,  I 
must  say  a  word,  and  that  is,  as  you  know  some- 
thing of  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  as  recorded  in 
the  Bible,  I  trust  you  will  never  rest  satisfied  with- 
out feeling  the  power  and  tasting  the  sweetness  of 
them  in  your  heart;  you  know  that  a  mere  profes- 
sion of  religion,  or  even  what  is  called  morality  of 
conduct,  will  not  take  a  man  to  heaven,  except  the 
heart  is  changed  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  brought 
to  depend  upon  Christ  alone.  It  is  through  his 
blood  that  our  sins  must  be  forgiven,  and  by  his 
merits  only  that  we  can  be  saved:  and,  whenever  a 
man  is  born  again  of  the  Spirit,  and  is  enabled  to 
look  to  Christ  for  justification,  he  will  not  live  in  a 
careless,  loose  manner.  It  is  impossible;  for  being 
united  to  him  who  is  infinitely  holy,  he  must  be 
holy  too.  And  by  this,  my  dear  mother,  you  and  I 
must  try  ourselves,  and  see  whether  we  are  inte- 
rested in  Christ  or  not.  If  we  are,  our  lives  will  be 
consistent,  our  tempers  will  not  be  violent  and  out- 
rageous; but  it  will  be  our  ambition  to  live  soberly, 
righteously,  and  godly  in  this  present  evil  world. 
Let  us  be  careful,  then,  about  this  matter,  and  let 
no  day  slip  without  prayer  and  self-examination. 
Time  is  short,  death  and  eternity  are  near.  May  we 
be  prepared  for  both.  I  now  remain, 

"  Your  affectionate  son, 

"  C.  B.,r 


R2 


198  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 


No.  XXIX. 


"  Farnham,  January  6,  1794. 
u  With  pleasure  I  inform  you,  that  I  am  better 
in  health  than  when  I  wrote  to  you  last.  My  breast 
is  less  painful,  and  my  spirits  revive;  but  whether 
in  health  or  in  sickness,  I  wish  to  recollect  that  the 
Lord  doth  all  things  well.  Whatever  may  be  our 
situation,  we  have  no  cause  for  murmuring.  If  we 
compare  our  comforts  with  our  crosses,  our  mercies 
with  our  sins,  our  afflictions  with  our  deserts,  there 
is  every  reason  to  be  contented  and  thankful.  But, 
is  too  great  a  propensity  in  us  to  be  dissatis- 
fied with  the  proceedings  of  our  Heavenly  Father, 
and  though  we  know  that  not  even  one  circumstance 
can  be  altered,  or  rendered  otherwise  than  he  de- 
signed it,  yet  how  foolishly  do  we  wish  that  things 
were  ordered  differently  to  what  they  are.  What  a 
source  of  grief  is  our  corruption!  The  unbelief, 
pride,  self-will,  and  impatience  that  lie  hidden  in 
our  hearts  are  causes  of  perpetual  sorrow.  Were  it 
not  for  these,  what  a  superior  degree  of  happiness 
should  we  enjoy  to  what  we  do  at  present.  How- 
ever, it  is  a  mercy  that  we  are  sensible  of  our  de- 
pravity; it  will  tend  to  make  us  loath  ourselves,  and 
look  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  help;  he  it  is  that 
can  heal  our  diseases,  and  give  us  health  and  prospe- 
rity of  soul.  O!  that  We  could  place  ourselves  un- 
der his  care,  and  be  more  attentive  to  his  word.  We 
too  often  place  dependance  upon  earthly  helps.  Or- 
dinances and  ministers  are  our  resources,  and  we 
are  confiding  in  them  as  if  they  could  relieve  us; 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  199 

but  these,  however  excellent  as  instruments,  cannot 
do  that  for  us  which  we  want.  Let  the  Lord  alone, 
then,  be  the  object  of  our  confidence,"  he  is  the 
Fountain  of  Living  Waters  to  purify  us;  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness  to  enliven  us;  the  great  Physician  to 
heal  us;  the  Almighty  King  to  govern  us;  the  ever- 
lasting Friend  to  support  us;  the  all-wise  Counsel- 
lor to  direct  us;  the  tender  Shepherd  to  protect  us! 
However  weak  and  insignificant  we  are,  yet  his  cha- 
racters just  suit  our  impotency,  his  promises  our 
situation.  He  is  wisdom  to  us  in  our  ignorance; 
light  to  us  in  our  darkness;  strength  for  us  in  our 
weakness;  comfort  in  us  in  our  misery;  righteous- 
ness for  us  in  our  imperfection;  salvation  to  us  in 
our  danger.  O!  what  a  wonderful  suitability  is 
here!  We  are  nothing,  he  is  every  thing;  we  are  as 
a  blank,  he  all  and  in  all.  O  that  this  Saviour  may 
be  ours  in  life,  in  death,  and  for  ever. 

"  I  must  thank  you  for  your  kind  answer  to  my 
letter,  and  may  you  ever  be  blessed  with  such  sen- 
timents as  you  therein  discover,  while  you  enjoy  the 
refreshing  influences  of  that  gracious  Spirit,  who  I 
hope  has  sealed  you  to  the  day  of  redemption.  The 
smiles  of  God,  to  you,  I  know,  are  of  more  value 
than  ten  thousand  worlds,  and  his  approbation  of 
more  importance  than  all  the  favour  and  esteem  of 
mortals,  however  aggrandized  and  elevated.  O! 
what  an  honour,  my  dearest  friend,  is  it  to  sit  at  the 
feet  of  Christ!  A  king  thinks  it  is  honour  to  sit  on  a 
throne;  the  judge  thinks  it  is  honour  to  sit  on  the 
bench;  and  the  generality  of  men  think  it  their  ho- 
nour to  sit  in  the  presence  of  the  great  and  noble. 
But  what  situation,  what  honour  like  that  of  Mary's? 


200  MEMOIRS   OF   THE 

Let  the  world  fight  and  strive:  let  the  ungodly  be 
ambitious  after  earthly  grandeur;  here  may  you  and 
I  be  found  for  ever.  Here  may  we  sit  contemplat- 
ing and  adoring  the  excellencies  of  our  glorious  Im- 
manuel,  until  that  blessed  day  when  we  shall  be 
called  from  the  world  below  to  the  world  above, 
where  faith  will  be  turned  into  sight,  anticipation 
into  possession,  and  hope  into  enjoyment.  Until 
then,  may  our  hearts  be  knit  with  the  tenderest 
sympathy,  united  by  the  strongest  affection,  filled 
with  the  most  genuine  joy,  influenced  by  the  kind 
love  of  Immanuel,  and  then,  at  last,  guarded  by  his 
power  and  surrounding  angels,  we  part  to  meet 
again,  and  meet  to  part  no  more. 

"  I  remain,  &c. 

"C.B." 


No.  XXX. 
Mr*  Boulton,  Hillsley,  Gloucestershire. 

u  Hoxton  Academy,  March  8,  \79i. 
"  Dear  Friend — I  am  glad  to  find  that  you  are 
so  much  recovered  from  the  severe  indisposition  of 
body  with  which  you  have  been  lately  exercised. 
Sickness  is  one  of  those  evils  sin  has  brought  upon 
us,  and  from  which  few  are  always  exempt  while  in 
this  mortal  state.  The  human  frame  is  of  so  deli- 
cate a  make,  so  tender  in  all  its  parts,  that  it  is 
easily  impaired,  and  sometimes  the  least  inattention 
will  lay  a  foundation  for  some  dreadful  disease, 
which  will  not  lose  its  hold,  till  it  has  destroyed  the 


p 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  201 


vitals,  and  brought  its  possessor  to  the  house  ap- 
pointed for  all  living.  However,  I  would  be  thank- 
ful with  you  that  the  Lord  has  been  pleased  to  re* 
store  vou  your  wonted  health,  and  I  hope  that  you 
will  be  able  to  see  that  the  Supreme  Disposer  of  all 
events  hath  been  infinitely  wise  in  causing  you  to 
pass  through  the  fire.  As  we  are  sometimes  led  to 
set  a  greater  value  upon  our  blessings,  by  being  for 
a  time  deprived  of  them,  so  perhaps,  (after  this 
trial,)  should  you  enjoy  your  health  in  future,  you 
will  be  more  thankful  for  it,  and  more  careful  of  it* 
Your  letter  informs  me  of  the  resignation  you  felt 
when  in  your  affliction,  and  that  you  could  give  up 
all  that  was  dear  to  you  in  this  life,  so  that  you 
might  be  with  Christ.  Happy  situation  your's!  to 
be  enabled  stedfastly  to  look  to  Christ  in  that  mo- 
ment when  we  imagine  we  see  death  before  us,  when 
we  are  about  to  close  our  eyes,  to  take  our  last  fare- 
well of  all  things  here,  when  the  band  that  binds  us 
to  the  world,  is  about  to  be  broken,  when  we  are 
about  to  plunge  into  that  boundless  ocean,  eternity; 
I  say,  in  such  a  moment  as  this  to  be  happy,  is  an 
inestimable  blessing  indeed.  And  yet  such  happi- 
ness have  the  children  of  God  experienced.  What 
manifestations  of  divine  love;  what  astonishing 
views  of  Christ;  what  noble  fortitude;  what  extatic 
joys;  what  divine  support  have  they  had,  when 
passing  through  that  vale,  which  in  itself  is  so 
dark  and  gloomy,  and  which  to  many  has  been  so 
terrific! 

u  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  the  last  sermon  I  preach- 
ed among  you  has  been  made   useful;  but  I  had 


202  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

rather  be  excused  from  printing  it,  as  desired.  I 
am  rather  backward  to  do  any  thing  of  this  kind  at 
present,  for  two  reasons;  first,  as  I  have  not  yet  left 
the  Academy;  and,  secondly,  as  I  am  conscious  of 
my  inability  to  appear  as  an  author  with  credit.  I 
have,  it  is  true,  some  time  ago,  published  several 
things  in  the  magazines,  but  now  I  have  even  ceas- 
ed from  that,  as  I  have  so  little  time  and  experi- 
ence, and  as  every  day  I  live  I  am  more  convinced 
of  my  own  ignorance,  and  the  necessity  of  close  ap- 
plication for  the  increasing  of  my  intellectual  store. 
Tell  the  good  people,  therefore,  that  they  shall  have 
my  prayers  in  private,  and  that  whenever  I  come  that 
way,  they  shall  have  my  labours  in  public;  but  that 
as  yet  I  wish  not  to  appear  in  print.  Hoping  your 
family  and  self  are  well,  I  remain,  my  dear  friend, 
u  Your's  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  B.,r 


No.  XXXI. 

Rev,  T.  Symmons,  Wotton   Under-edge,  Gloucester- 
shire* 

"  Hoxton  Academy,  March  15,  1794. 
"  Dear  Friend — Your  kind  letter  came  safe  to 
hand,  and  I  now  sit  down  to  answer  it.  You  desire 
me  to  send  you  some  intelligence  relative  to  the 
kingdom  of  grace  in  my  own  soul.  Of  this  I  can  say 
but  little,  or  at  least  cannot  say  much,  as  to  any  ad- 
vancement in  knowledge,  or  progress  in  the  divine 
life.  I  find  innumerable  evils  constantly  rising,  and 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  203 

striving  to  gain  the  ascendancy  over  me,  while  Sa- 
tan is  ever  busy  in  proposing  temptations,  and  lay- 
ing baits  in  the  was'.  I  feel  in  myself  at  times  a  sad 
propensity  to  unbelief.  There  art-  Hardly  any  of  the 
doctrines  of  grace  that  I  an;  not  sometimes  ready  to 
doubt,   and  I   am   conscious  re    is   not  that 

trusting  in,  relying  upon,  or  living  to  the  Lord  as 
there  ought  to  be.   Yet  I  bless  God,   that  notwith- 
standing the  power  of  corruption  within,  and  the 
assaults  of  enemies   without,   I   dare    not    give  up. 
Weak  as  I  am,  I  can  say  that  I  wish  to  be  more  de- 
voted to  the  Lord.   O!  that  he  may  lead  me  by  his 
counsel    here,    and  afterwards   bring  me   to  glory. 
With  regard  to  the  progress  of  the  gospel  in  gene  • 
ral,  it  is  difficult  to  determine.  The  number  of  pro- 
fessors is  great;   many  are  the  houses  built  for  the 
preaching  of  the  everlasting  gospel;   and  there  are 
not  a  few  who  are  commissioned  by  the  Great  Head 
of  the  Church  to  promulgate  those  sentiments  foemd 
in  the  sacred  records.  But  after  all,  few,  compara- 
tively speaking,  know  the  truth  any  otherwise  than 
in  speculation.  Few  feel  the  power,  taste  the  sweet- 
ness,    and   rejoice    in  the  fulness   of   the  grace  of 
Christ.   Alas!    too    many  are   contented  with   only 
heaiing  the  gospel,  especially  if  it  is  delivered  with 
a  degree  of  pathos,  set  forth  by  the  powers  of  ora- 
tory, displayed  in  a  pleasing  manner,  or  almost  cor- 
rupted by  a  too  nice  attention  to  the  elegance  of  lan- 
guage or  refinement  of  style.   And  indeed  there  is  a 
something  so  entertaining,  so  sublime,  so  beautiful 
and  grand,  in  the  sacred  scriptures,  and  in  the  gos- 
pel of  Jesus  Christ,  that  men  are  oftentimes  pleased 


204  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

with  them,  without  ever  being  profited  by  them: 
they  give  credence  to  the  truths  asserted ,  acknow- 
ledge the  excellency  of  them,  and  think  they  have 
done  well,  while  they  rest  satisfied  in  their  sins,  and 
can  perpetrate  the  most  atrocious  crimes  without  any 
remorse  of  conscience.  My  dear  friend,  it  becomes 
us,  as  the  ambassadors  of  God,  to  be  faithful  to  such 
characters,  whenever  we  stand  up  in  that  awful  place 
the  pulpit,  and  to  pray  much  in  secret,  that  religion 
may  have  a  greater  influence  on  the  minds  and  con- 
duct of  professors,  that  they  may  "  walk  worthy  of 
the  Lord  unto  all  pleasing,  being  fruitful  in  every 
good  work." 

"  As  to  politics,  what  shall  I  say?  I  seldom  trou- 
ble myself  much  about  them.  The  present  state  of 
affairs  is  gloomy,  but  let  us  hope  for  the  best.  With 
respect  to  the  French,  I  think  the  Lord  is  doing  two 
things  at  once,  punishing  them  for  their  abominable 
infidelity  and  persecution  of  the  saints  of  God  in 
past  ages,  and  likewise  making  way  for  the  propa- 
gation of  the  glorious  gospel  in  that  country,  which 
has  been  so  long  under  the  most  dreadful  darkness. 
I  preached  on  the  Fast-day,  from  Ezek.  4,  5,  6. 
The  heads  of  my  sermon  were  these,  1st,  When 
men  give  themselves  up  to  work  wickedness,  God 
oftentimes  visits  them  with  sore  calamities,  ver.  6. 
2d.  When  iniquity  abounds,  it  is  a  cause  of  great 
grief  to  the  people  of  God.  Sigh  and  cry,  ver.  4. 
3d.  Whatever  calamity  falls  upon  a  nation  or  people, 
the  righteous  shall  be  safe.  Set  a  mark,  &c.  ver.  4. 
^— I  have  here  no  room  to  give  you  any  part  of  the 
amplification  of  these  particulars;  however,  I  be- 


RE'V.   CHARLES  BUCK.  205 

lieve  I  could  not  be  accused  of  sedition  ....  It  is 
best  to  say  nothing  in  the  pulpit  about  politics;  let 
us  preach  the  gospel,  and  at  the  same  time  show 
that  we  are  not  inimici  ad  libcrtatem. 

44 1  remain  your's  sincerely,  "  C.  B." 


During  this  year,  the  last  devoted  by  him  to 
academical  pursuits,  Mr»  B.  visited  several  vacant 
congregations,  with  a  view  to  the  pastoral  office. 
Some  of  his  letters  are  dated  from  Banbury,  a  place 
where  the  Cockatrice  Antinomianism  for  many 
years  brooded  over  her  accursed  offspring,  and 
where  her  family  increased,  until  mutual  animosi- 
ties, the  never-failing  consequence  where  she  gains 
a  being  and  an  ascendancy,  exposed  them  first  to 
bhorrence,  and  then  reduced  them  to  nothing.  This 
abomination  of  desolation"  had  begun  to  operate 
at  the  period  when  Mr.  B.  first  visited  Banbury; 
and  after  three  months  labour  there,  he  declined  the 
invitation  of  the  people,  observing,  "  that  the  diver- 
sity of  opinions  prevailing  among  them"  led  him  to 
this  determination;  a  step  which  I  am  inclined  to 
believe  he  never  afterwards  regretted. 

From  Banbury  he  thus  writes  to  various  friends: 

No.  XXXII. 

"  Banbury,  March  31,  1794. 
44 1  preached  yesterday  three  times.   In  the  morn- 
ing and  evening  found  it  pleasant,  but  in  the  after- 
noon was  rather  heavy.  They  have  here  a  very  com- 
S 


. 


206  MEMO  HIS   OF  THE* 

modious  and  neat  place  of  worship,  which  perhaps 
may  hold  five  or  six  hundred  people,  but  it  was  not 
full.  I  can  give  you  no  account  of  the  people  vet,  as 
I  have  had  no  time  to  converse  with  them.  I  hope 
the  Lord  will  be  with  me  while  I  am  here,  and  give  me 
some  seals  to  my  ministry.  I  think  here  is  some 
prospect  of  doing  good,  as  the  people  of  the  town  are 
not  such  violent  enemies  to  the  cause  as  they  are  in 
some  places.  May  the  Lord  grant  that  I  may  cry 
aloud,  and  spare  not;  that  I  may  be  an  instrument  in 
his  hand  of  doing  some  little  good  among  them. 
This,  I  trust  I  can  say,  is  my  sole  desire,  and  hop© 
it  ever  will  be  my  ambition,  not  to  preach  myself, 
but  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord. 

"  I  am  quite  happy  in  the  reflection  on  the  busi- 
ness of  Friday  last.*  I  did  not  think  I  should  have 
come  off  with  such  eclat;  but  the  Lord  disappointed 
my  fear,  and  made  that  which  I  dreaded  terminate 
in  a  degree  of  pleasure.  So  it  is,  that  oftentimes 
where  we  expect  a  bitter  we  find  a  sweet.  I  confess 
my  mind  has  been  so  unhinged  for  some  time  past, 
that  I  have  been  quite  indisposed  for  every  thing, 
but  now  the  burden  is  removed,  my  mind  is  set  at  li- 
berty. I  p^ay  God  it  may  not  make  an  addition  to  my 
pride;  I  have  too  much  of  that  cursed  evil  already, 
and  am  fearful  of  any  thing  that  may  augment  it. 
Whatever  degree  of  succ.ss  we  meet  with,  or  how- 
ever acceptable,  humility  becomes  us.  This  is  a  grace 
which  should  be  an  attendant  in  every  situation;  it  is 

*  His  examination  and  preaching  before  the  Evangelical  So- 
ciety at  Hoxton. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  207 

a  star  which  ought  constantly  to  be  worn  on  the 
breasts  of  the  princes  of  the  court  of  heaven,  and 
should  cast  a  splendour  on  all  our  conduct,  so  that 
all  may  see  it,  and  be  constrained  to  say,  that  we  are 
walking  humbly  with  our  God.  Pray  for  me,  there- 
fore, that  I  may  be  kept  in  my  proper  place,  and 
ever  have  proper  views  of  myself,  and  that  I  may  al- 
ways remember  that  it  is  by  the  grace  of  God  that  I 
am  what  I  am.— There  is  something  so  noble,  so 
refined,  so  satisfactory,  in  conversing  with  God,  that 
a  true  believer  will  relinquish  every  thing  of  an 
earthly  nature  for  the  enjoyment  of  it.  Earthly  com- 
forts tend  to  clog  and  make  this  world  more  desira- 
ble; but  heavenly  ones  enliven  the  soul,  and  lead  it 
to  look  to  the  world  above,  where  it  shall  for  ever 
drink  of  that  fountain  of  felicity  which  is  inexhausti- 
ble. O!  that  we  may  ever  consider  it  our  privilege, 
our  honour,  to  be  found  waiting  upon  the  Lord; 
may  it  be  our  delight  to  be  carrying  on  correspon- 
dence with  him. 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XXXIII. 

"  Banbury,  April  9, 1794. 

"  I  have  just  parted  with  Mr.  ,  of  Coventry. 

He  came  here  yesterday,  and  preached  the  last  even- 
ing at  the  meeting.  His  text  was  Acts,  xiv.  3. 
"  Which  gave  testimony  unto  the  word  of  his  grace." 
We    had   a  tolerably  large    congregation,  and    the 

Lord,   I  hope,  was  with  us.   Mr. is  a  useful 

preacher,  an  agreeable  companion,  and  above  all,  I 


208  MEMOIRS  OI   THE 

believe,  an  eminent  Christian.  We  expect  Mr.  — — 
next  week,  with  whom  I  hope  to  have  a  comfortable 
interview,  as  I  know  he  is  a  man  of  sterling  piety 
and  real  worth.  O!  if  it  be  such  pleasure  to  have 
communion  with  the  servants  of  the  Lord,  what 
pleasure  must  it  yield  to  have  communion  with  the 
Lord  himself!  All  the  excellencies  of  the  creature 
are  but  reflections  of  his  glory  and  the  effects  of  his 
grace.  I  wish,  therefore,  to  be  led  from  a  view  of 
those  excellencies  in  man  to  a  contemplation  of  the 
exalted  perfections  of  God.  He  is  infinitely  great 
and  glorious,  and  demands  our  constant  regard;  he 
is  worthy  of  all,  and  infinitely  more  adoration  and 
praise  than  we  as  sinful  creatures  can  render  unto 
him.  For  myself,  I  wish  to  exert  every  power,  and 
to  use  every  effort,  to  set  forth  his  praise;  and  what 
felicity  is  there  in  beholding  his  goodness,  as  mani- 
fested to  such  rebellious  creatures!  He  remembered 
us  in  our  low  estate,  and  sent  his  Son,  his  only  be- 
gotten Son,  into  this  world,  to  bleed,  groan,  suffer, 
and  die,  that  we  might  be  delivered  from  the  curse 
of  that  law  we  had  broken,  and  be  saved  in  the  Lord 
with  an  eternal  salvation.  May  not  I,  may  not  you 
and  all,  say,  "  What  shall  we  render  unto  the  Lord 
for  all  his  benefits,  and  especially  for  this  great  act 
of  love?" 

"  I  find  the  people  here,  as  yet,  agreeable,  and 
though  a  mixed  congregation,  unanimous.  I  had  a 
comfortable  day  the  last  Sabbath,  and  we  were  more 
in  number  than  the  Sabbath  before.  I  hope  it  will  be 
a  growing  interest,  and  that  the  Lord  hath  a  great 
work  to  do  in  this  place.  The   cause,    I  think,  has 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  209 

been  rather  hurt  by  the  misconduct  of  some  of  the 
preachers  who  have  been  here.  You  would  be  shock- 
ed if  you  were  to  hear  how  some  have  behaved.  No 
wonder  the  world  inveighs  so  much  against  profes- 
sors and  preachers  of  religion,  when  so  many  have 
acted  so  inconsistent  a  part.  Awful  it  is,  when  oc- 
casion is  given  for  enemies  to  be  more  prejudiced 
against  the  truth.  O!  my  dearest  friend,  pray  for 
me,  that  I  may  preach  well  with  my  life,  if  not  with 
my  lips. 

a  It  has  rained  almost  every  day  since  I  have  been 
here,  so  that  I  have  been  much  confined.  I  long  for 
some  fine  weather,  that  I  may  get  out  a  little,  to 
tread  the  verdant  lawns,  survey  the  spacious  plains, 
and  behold  the  wondrous  works  of  the  Almighty's 
hand.  To  a  contemplative  mind,  the  country  yields 
innumerable  objects  which  display  the  wisdom  and 
power  of  our  God,  especially  at  this  season,  when  all 
things  are  springing  into  life,  and  Nature  about  to 
disrobe  herself  of  her  wintry  garb,  and  put  on  her 
most  lovely  appearance.  I  thank  you  for  your  kind 
and  tt  uly  spiritual  epistle;  it  was  edifying,  it  was  con- 
solatory. Hoping  you  and  all  are  well,  I  subscribe 
myself, 

"  Your's  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  B." 


S2 


210  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

No.  XXXIV. 

Rev.  T.  Wills. 

"  Banbury,  April  14,  1794. 
"  My  dear  Sir — Through  mercy  I  had  a  safe  jour- 
ney hither,  and  find  the  people  agreeable  and  kind. 
Banbury  is  rather  a  large  town,  and  the  place  of 
worship  is  commodious  and  neat,  and  perhaps  will 
hold  five  or  six  hundred  people.  The  galleries  and 
the  sides  under  them  are  pretty  well  filled,  but  many 
of  the  middle  seats  are  empty  (though  I  believe  most 
of  them  are  taken),  which  makes  it  look  uncomfor- 
table. There  is  some  opportunity  of  doing  good  in 
this  country,  as  they  say  there  are  nearly  sixty  vil- 
lages within  no  great  compass.  They  wish  me  to 
stay  three  months,  but  I  have  only  engaged  for  three 
Sabbaths  longer  than  my  first  proposal,  as  I  wish  to 
be  at  the  Academy  the  last  three  weeks  or  month  of 
my  time.  The  people  are  agreeable  to  this,  and  wish 
me  to  come  back  afterwards  should  I  like  it;  but  I 
can  say  nothing  relative  to  this  at  present — I  desire 
to  follow  the  leadings  of  Providence,  and  to  be  in 
that  situation  where  I  could  be  useful.  London  I  am 
partial  to,  because  of  my  friends  and  connections, 
but  the  country  I  prefer  for  retirement  and  study. 
I  find  daily  necessity  for  this.  I  know  not  how  a 
young  minister  can  preach  often  to  a  stated  congre- 
gation with  pleasure  and  profit,  without  much  appli- 
cation, constant  reading,  and  fervent  prayer.  The 
work  is  arduous,  and  ought  not  to  be  attended  eo  in 
a  superficial  manner.    Though  I   believe   all   the 


flu 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  211 

nowledge  and  accomplishments  ministers  may  ob- 
tain, will  be  of  no  avail,  without  that  wisdom  which 
cometh  down  from  above. — The  teachings  of  the 
Spirit  are  of  the  greatest  importance,  and  of  most 
utility  to  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  Forget  not,  there- 
fore, dear  Sir,  when  you  approach  the  throne  of 
ace,  to  pray  that  I  may  be  under  his  continual  in- 

uence,  that  humility  and  love,  zeal  and  faithful- 
ness, may  be  the  shining  characteristics  in  my  de- 
portment and  conduct.  I  gave  the  guinea  to  Mr. 
Wilson  as  you  desired,  and  he  wished  me  to  ascer- 
tain the  name,  if  possible,  and  to  inform  him,  as  the 
collector  otherwise  will  not  know  where  to  call  when 
he  goes  round.  But,  alas!  I  find  he  is  gone  to  his 
long  home.  Little  did  I  think  then  that  his  dissolu- 
tion was  so  near:  but  I  hope  he  is  now  safe  and  hap- 
py in  the  participation  of  that  felicity  which  awaits 
all  the  children  of  God.  What  a  privilege  it  is  to  be 
a  Christian?  How  can  such  a  one  look  forward  to 
death  and  eternity  with  the  greatest  composure?  He 
can  bid  adieu  to  all  terrestrial  things,  and  take  leave 
of  his  dearest  friends  with  pleasure,  knowing  that 
he  is  going  to  the  enjoyment  of  his  best  Friend 
above!  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and 
let  my  last  end  be  like  his.  I  now  conclude,  wishing 
you  much  of  our  Lcrd's  presence,  and  am,  dear 
Sir,  your  willing  and  humble  servant, 

"  C.  B." 


212  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 


No.  XXXV. 


"  Banbury,  Oxfordshire,  April  15,  1704. 
u  — i —  You  are  almost  ready  to  conclude  that  I 
have  forgotten  you,  but  this  will  prove  to  the  con- 
trary. I  came  safe  down,  thank  God,  and  am  pretty 
well  in  health.  I  thought  to  have  returned  next 
week,  but  they  wish  me  to  stay  longer;  I  have  there- 
fore engaged  to  tarry  two  or  three  weeks  more.  I 
know  not  yet  whether  I  shall  settle  here,  but  should 
have  no  objection  to  a  situation  somewhere  in  this 
part,  as  it  is  between  Gloucestershire  and  London, 
and  no  considerable  distance  from  either.  However, 
I  wish  to  be  where  the  Lord  would  have  me,  and 
where  I  can  be  serviceable  to  my  fellow-creatnres, 
by  preaching  the  everlasting  gospel.  This,  I  trust, 
is  my  desire,  and  hope  it  will  be  my  pursuit,  while 
life  shall  last.  My  time  at  the  Academy  will  now 
soon  expire,  and  my  studies  there,  I  hope,  will  yield 
some  advantage  in  time  to  come.  But  I  wish  to  be 
a  more  diligent  student  of  God's  word,  so  as  not 
only  to  understand  the  meaning,  but  taste  the  sweet- 
ness and  feel  the  power  of  it  in  my  own  heart. 
Without  this,  all  my  other  knowledge  will  be  of  no 
avail,  either  as  to  my  happiness  or  usefulness.'  But  I 
will  not  write  any  longer  about  myself;  I  am  writing 
to  you,  and  therefore  feel  it  my  duty  to  say  some- 
thing, if  possible,  to  your  profit  and  advantage;  if  a 
child  may  be  permitted  to  address  a  parent.  Let  me 
ask  you,  then,  if  you  have  such  a  view  of  yourself, 
of  your  own  depravity  and  unworthiness,  as  to  be 
led  to  depend  alone  upon  the  infinite  merits  of  Christ 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  213 

salvation?  Do  you  know  what  it  is  to  be  under 
the  regenerating  influences  of  the  Holy  Ghost?  Do 
you  find  a  greater  pleasure  in  religion  than  in  any 
thing  else;  and  is  it  your  desire  to  devote  your  time 
and  all  you  have  to  that  glorious  Being  who  hath 
done  so  much  for  you?  Do  you  feel  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  to  have  any  effect  upon  your  temper,  mind, 
and  conduct.  O!  that  you,  and  I,  and  all  the  family, 
may  never  rest  satisfied  with  any  thing  short  of  this. 
But,  I  am  afraid  it  is  not  so  with  all  of  us.  I  wish 
there  were  more  concern  about  the  best  things,  for  I 
tremble  when  I  think  how  awful  it  would  be  were 
any  of  your  children  to  be  separated  in  another 
world,  some  in  happiness,  and  others  in  misery. 
God  forbid  that  any  one  of  us  should  fall  into  that  pit 
from  whence  there  is  no  redemption!  And  what 
can  we  expect,  except  there  is  repentance?  This  is  a 
serious  matter — it  is  not  a  trifle.  It  is  not  irrational 
to  consider  it.  May  we  be  wise  unto  salvation  is  my 
earnest  prayer.  I  now  remain, 

M  Your  obedient  son, 

"  C.  B.r- 


No.  XXXVI. 

«  Banbury,  April  19,  ir94 
"  I  have  been  thinking  all  day  of  going  out  this 
evening,  but  instead  of  it  I  sit  down  to  write  to  you. 
I  told  you,  in  a  former  letter,  that  the  bad  weathev 
had  detained  me  at  home;  but  the  other  evening  it 
was  fine,  and  I  had  a  most  pleasant  and  I  hope  pro«» 


214  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

fitable  walk.  The  sun,  with  his  cheering  rays,  made 
every  thing  look  bright  and  gay;  the  wind  served 
the  place  of  a  gentle  fan,  while  the  little  choristers 
of  the  air,  with  their  various  notes,  performed  their 
work  with  wonderful  skill;  the  banks  were  strewed 
with  variegated  flowers,  and  the  fields  clothed  with 
living  green.  All  alone,  my  mind  was  employed  in 
happy  contemplation  on  that  glorious  object,  whose 
powerful  hand  brought  all  these  beauties  into  exist- 
ence for  the  good,  the  happiness  of  man.  As  I  walk- 
ed on,  I  met  a  grey-headed  old  man,  with  his  bun- 
dle of  sticks,  moving  gently  on,  as  if  hardly  capable 
of  sustaining  his  burden.  Ah!  thought  I,  old  age, 
thou  oughtest  to  be  venerated,  but  yet  how  soon 
must  thou  submit  to  the  monster  Death.  How  near 
art  thou  to  an  eternal  world,  and  soon,  very  soon, 
must  be  brought  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  liv- 
ing! I  proceeded,  till  at  last  I  came  to  a  narrow 
avenue,  with  lofty  trees  on  each  side,  among  which 
were  some  firs,  which  retained  their  verdure,  though 
the  others  had  been  stripped  of  all  their  cloathing. 
Lively  emblem,  said  I,  of  the  difference  between 
nominal  Christians  and  real  ones;  the  latter,  like  the 
fir-tree,  are  not  materially  injured  by  the  winter  of 
adversity;  but  the  former  cannot  stand  the  nipping 
frosts  of  persecution  and  temptation,  but  soon  lose 
their  apparent  beauty.  As  I  returned,  the  sun  was 
drawing  near  the  horizon,  and  soon  was  out  of  sight, 
when  I  could  not  help  imploring  the  grace  of  our 
indulgent  Father,  that  my  sun  might  not  set  in  a 
cloud,  but  decline  with  pleasing  smiles.  Thus  I 
have  just  given  you  the   outlines  of  my  evening's 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  215 

entertainment,  and  surely  what  can  be  more  profit- 
able than  thus  to  improve  an  hour's  walk?  Methinks 
there  is  more  felicity  to  be  found  in  this  than  in  all 
the  fineries,  routs,  and  entertainments  of  the  great. 

I  have  lately  been   reading  Brooks's  precious 

Remedies  against  Satan's  Devices.  It  is  good  old 
divinity,  and  I  should  think  very  proper  to  be  read 
by  those  who  are  much  exposed  to  temptations. 
Speaking  of  the  insufficiency  of  worldly  good  to 
make  men  happy,  he  says,  u  You  may  as  soon  fill  a 
bag  with  wisdom,  a  chest  with  virtue,  or  a  circle 
with  a  triangle,  as  the  heart  of  man  with  any  thing 
here  below.  A  man  may  have  enough  of  the  world 
to  sink  him,  but  he  can  never  have  enough  to 
satisfy  him."  This  I  believe  is  true,  and  the  more 
we  know  of  the  world,  the  more  we  shall  see  the 
truth  of  Solomon's  observation,  All  is  vanity  and 
vexation  of  spirit.  O!  that  we  may  be  led  out  of  it, 
to  depend  more  upon  him  in  whom  real  and  perma- 
nent happiness  is  to  be  found.  I  wish  you  much  of 
the  Lord's  presence  on  Tuesday,  and  hope  it  will  be 
a  profitable  day.  I  hope  the  little  journey  will  like- 
wise be  of  service  to  you,  who  are  always  buried  in 
the  smoke,  and  dinned  with  the  noise  of  London. 
Were  you  of  my  mind,  you  would  breathe  the  coun- 
try air  oftener:  it  is  pleasant,  it  is  salubrious.  May 
you  find  it  so.   I  now  subscribe  myself, 

"  Your's  affectionately, 

«  C.  B." 


216  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 


XXXVII. 


"  Banbury,  April  28,  1794, 
"  This  morning  I  am  quite  fatigued,  having 
preached  three  times  yesterday.  This  is  rather  too 
much  for  my  weak  constitution,  and  whether  it  will 
be  justifiable  for  me  to  do  it  for  a  continuance,  I 
can  hardly  tell;  because  too  hard  labour  at  first  set- 
ting out  may  cut  short  my  usefulness  in  future  days; 
yet  I  can  truly  say,  that  I  desire  to  spend  and  be 
spent  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  I  think,  of  the  two,  I 
would  rather  die  in  the  exercise,  than,  on  the  other 
hand,  to  be  guilty  of  indolence  and  unfaithfulness. 
Much  more  noble  is  it  to  fall  in  the  field  of  battle, 
than  to  run  away  as  a  coward,  and  be  charged  with 
acting  an  inconsistent  part.  May  the  glorious  Cap- 
tain of  my  salvation  enable  me  to  be  strong  in  his 
grace,  and  to  endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier, 
then  shall  I  come  off  at  last,  not  as  a  vanquished 

enemy,  but  victorious  conquerer I  have  lately 

been  reading  the  history  of  Greenland,  with  a  rela- 
tion of  the  mission  carried  on  there  for  above  thirty 
years  by  the  United  Brethren,  written  by  David 
Crants,  who,  I  apprehend,  was  a  Moravian  mission- 
ary. I  must  confess  it  is  a  wonderful  work.  Mr. 
Newton  says  of  it,  u  None  who  love  the  Lord  will 
refuse  to  say  it  is  the  finger  of  God  indeed.  For 
my  own  part,  my  soul  rejoices  in  it,  and  I  honour 
the  instruments  as  men  who  have  hazarded  their 
lives  in  an  extraordinary  manner  for  the  sake  of  the 
Lord  Jesus.  Sure  I  am,  that  none  could  have  sus- 
tained such  discouragements  at  first,  or  have  ob- 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  21^ 

tamed  such  success  afterwards,  unless  the  Lord  had 
sent,  supported,  and  owned  them." — See  his  Cardi- 
phonia,  vol.  ii.  p.  116.  I  never  saw  the  work  till  I 
came  here,  and  it  has  afforded  me  great  pleasure, 
and  I  hope  profit,  in  the  perusal  of  it. 

u  Saturday  evening  I  treated  myself  with  another 
walk.  The  evening  was  mild,  and  the  sun  had  tinged 
the  scattered  clouds  with  golden  hue.  At  a  distance 
the  lofty  spire  was  seen  rearing  its  head  above  the 
stately  trees.  Here  the  ground  was  covered  with 
beautiful  flowers;  there  it  was  spread  with  hand- 
some green,  and  formed  an  acceptable  carpet,  more 
to  be  admired  than  the  production  of  human  art. 
Ascending  a  rising  ground,  an  extensive  prospect 
opened  to  my  view.  Hills,  dales,  and  verdant  plains, 
filled  with  useful  cattle;  the  young  lambs  frisking 
about  the  fields;  the  birds  all  alive,  welcoming  the 
returning  spring.  Here,  thought  I,  the  difficulty  of 
ascending  an  eminence  is  always  repaid  bv  the  pros- 
pect it  affords.  So,  just  so,  is  it  in  regard  to  the  dif- 
ficulties a  believer  meets  with.  Hard  it  is  to  get 
up  the  hill  of  difficulty;  but  what  profit,  what  plea- 
sure, doth  it  afford  in  the  end.  Our  prospect  is 
brightened,  we  see  more  of  the  goodness  of  our 
God,  we  are  convinced  of  the  vanity  of  all  transito- 
ry things,  and  it  makes  us  long  to  enjoy  more  of 
him  from  whom  all  our  felicity  comes;  we  are  lift- 
ed above  all  the  vain  concerns  of  the  world,  and  can 
behold  with  indifference  the  things  of  time  and 
sense.  Let  us  also  remember,  that  the  dark  avenue 
of  death  leads  to  a  pleasant  land,  and  the  way  to  the 
mount  of  glory  is  through  the  path  of  difficulty.  Of 

T 


218  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

may  you  and  I  so  walk  in  this  wilderness  world,  as 
not  to  lose  sight  of  that  happy  place  where  we  shall 
look  back  with  pleasure,  and  confess  that  the  Lord 
hath  led  us  forth  by  a  right  way. 

"  I  remain  your's,  inviolably  yours, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XXXVIII. 

Rev.  T.  mils. 

"  Banbury,  Oxon,  April  29,  1794. 

"  My  dear  Sir — Your  kind  letter  I  received,  and 
think  myself  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  attention 
to  my  interest  and  happiness.  I  can  only  express 
my  gratitude  by  saying,  that  you  shall  not  be  for- 
gotten by  me  when  I  have  the  privilege  to  draw 
near  to  the  throne  of  grace,  that  the  Lord  may  fa- 
vour you  abundantly,  and  that  in  the  declining  vears 
of  life  you  may  be  still  made  more  useful,  and  enjoy 
much  of  our  dear  Redeemer's  presence. 

"  You  say  you  thought  Mr.  M was  to  settle 

here.  They  gave  jhim  a  call,  but  he  has  put  a  ne- 
gative upon  it.  Had  I  not  known  this,  I  should 
not  have  come.  You  might  well  be  at  a  loss  (not 
knowing  this  circumstance)  how  they  could  want 
my  services.  As  to  my  being  here  for  a  time,  or  in 
town  after  I  have  left  the  Academy,  I  really  cannot 
give  any  satisfactory  answer,  nor  perhaps  shall  I  be 
able  to  determine  till  I  have  had  some  conversation 
with  you.  My  mind  at  present  seems  to  be  in  the 
dark   what  to    do,    though  the    advice  you   have 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  219 


su 


given  me  is  indeed  very  proper  and  suitable,  and  I 
could  wish  to  follow  it.  I  know,  go  where  I  will,  I 
cannot  be  exempt  from  difficulties,  and  it  would  be 
foolish  for  me  to  think  of  a  situation  entirely  with- 
out them,  yet  flesh  and  blood  beg  hard  to  be  at  ease, 
and  do  not  like  to  meet  with  things  that  are  disa- 
greeable. However,  here  is  one  advantage,  that  there 
is  no  cross  I  experience,  but  my  Lord  can  turn  it  into 
a  comfort;  no  pain  but  he  can  turn  it  into  pleasure, 
and  no  trial  but  he  can  make  subservient  to  my  pro- 
fit and  advantage.  The  trials  attendant  on  a  gospel 
ministry  look  formidable,  when  considered  in  them- 
selves, but  viewed  with  the  eye  of  faith,  they  are 
all  necessary,  and,  in  the  end,  prove  of  the  greatest 
utility.  Happy  the  man  who  can  repose  his  confi- 
dence in  the  Lord,  refer  every  concern  to  his  hand, 

d  trust  all  to  his  wisdom  and  faithfulness.  Surely 
uch  a  one  shall  possess  that  multiplicity  of  peace 
of  which  the  prophet  speaks,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
raging  billows  and  threatening  storms  of  life  he  shall 
be  safe. 

"  I  hope  your  journey  to  Farnham  has  been  plea- 
sant and  profitable.  I  suppose  you  had  a  full  con- 
gregation, as  they  long  wanted  to  see  you. .....I  ex- 
pect to  be  at  home  by  the  third  Sabbath,  that  is, 
the  18th  of  May,  when  I  shall  be  at  your  service,  if 
wanted.  Hope  you,  Mrs.  Wills,  and  Miss  Thorn- 
hill  are  well.  My  best  respects  to  them,  if  you 
please;  and  am,  dear  Sir, 

"  Your  willing  and  humble  servant, 

«  C.  B." 


220  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

No.  xxxix; 

Rev.  T.  mils. 

"  Banbury,  May  10,  1794. 
"  My  dear  Sir — I  thank  you  for  the  early  inform- 
ation you  have  given  me  respecting  Hampstead,  but 
can  hardly  tell  how  to  reply.  I  cannot  say  that  I 
find  much  inclination  to  go  thither,  because,  if  my 
idea  of  it  be  right,  it  is  rather  a  barren  place  and 
but  few  people;  though  perhaps  it  might  be  render- 
ed otherwise  if  they  had  a  settled  minister  whom 
they  approved.  I  should  not  like  to  determine,  till 
I  have  had  some  conversation  with  you;  but  if  there 
be  a  necessity  for  their  having  a  minister  before 
then,  I  think  you  may  recommend  the  person  you 
speak  of.  As  to  Farnham,  I  would  also  decline  go- 
ing thither,  I  prefer  the  present  situation  were  I  to 
choose  of  the  two.  The  people  are  very  anxious  for 
my  return  here,  but  I  have  not  given  them  a  deci- 
sive answer;  nor  do  I  wish  to  do  it  hastily.  May 
the  Lord  direct  my  steps*,  and  never  suffer  me  to 
have  any  thing  in  view  but  his  glory,  and  the  good 
of  immortal  souls.  Too  many,  indeed,  are  seeking 
great  things  for  themselves,  without  any  regard  for 
the  good  of  their  fellow  creatures;  without  thinking 
that  their  grand  end  should  be  usefulness.  It  re- 
quires great  grace  to  direct  young  persons  who  are 
just  launching  into  the  sea  of  this  world  which  way 
to  steer.  There  is  a  sad  propensity  in  us  to  do  that 
which  is  wrong,  and  oftentimes  a  strange  backward- 
ness to  do  that  which  is  right;  and  what  between 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK. 


r 


an  unripe  judgment  on  the  one  hand,  and  a  precipi- 
cy  of  mind  too  common  to  youth  on  the  other, 
are  often  betrayed  into  that  which  in  the  end, 
perhaps,  is  not  so  consistent  or  so  comfortable.  Hap- 
py shall  I  be  if  I  am  under  the  influence  of  that  wis- 
dom which  is  profitable  to  direct,  and  can  place  all 
my  confidence  on  him  who  knows  what  is  best  for 
me.  It  is  a  consolatory  truth,  "  trust  in  the  Lord 
with  all  thine  heart,  and  lean  not  unto  thine  own 
understanding;  in  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him, 
and  he  shall  direct  thy  paths"  May  I  be  enabled  to 
follow  the  advice,  and  learn  to  commit  every  thing 
into  the  hands  of  Him  who  doth  all  things  well.  I 
thank  you  for  considering  me  as  the  first  on  your 
list.  May  that  sincere  affection  which  I  believe  has 
subsisted,  never  be  dissolved,  nor  any  thing  trans- 
pire which  may  tend  to  lessen  it,  is  my  earnest 
prayer.  My  best  respects  to  Mrs.  Wills  and  Miss 
T.;  hope  they  are  well, 

"  I  remain,  dear  Sir, 
"  Your  willing  and  humble  servant, 

"  C.  B." 

On  his  return  to  Hoxton,  having  received  a  una- 
nimous invitation  from  the  congregation  at  Banbu- 
ry, Mr.  B.  returned  to  that  invitation  the  following 
judicious  answer. 

T  2 


222  MEMOIRS  or  THE 


No.  XL. 


••  Hoxton,  May  29,  1794. 
**  Dear  friends — On  Saturday  last  I  received  your 
kind  invitation  to  come  and  settle  as  pastor  over  the 
congregation  of  which  you  make  a  part.  I  can  say 
sincerely  that  I  desire  to  follow  the  leadings  of  Pro- 
vidence, and  to  be  in  that  situation  where  my  minis- 
try will  not  merely  be  acceptable  but  useful.  In  re- 
gard to  Banbury  there  are  some  disadvantages 
which  a  minister  must  labour  under  in  coming 
among  you  (at  least  for  the  present.)  There  is  a 
debt  upon  the  place  of  worship  which  perhaps  will 
be  some  time  before  it  be  liquidated:  preaching 
three  times  a  day,  which  is  too  much  for  any  one 
man  who  wishes  to  preach  about  in  the  villages  in 
the  week;  and  what  is  of  most  importance,  no  re- 
gularity or  order  as  to  church  government,  without 
which  no  religious  society  can  properly  exist.  These 
are  the  most  prominent  objections,  and  certainly 
they  are  of  some  consequence.  However,  I  wish 
not  to  view  them  as  insurmountable.  They  may  per- 
haps in  time  be  obviated;  and  as  I  have  no  other 
end  in  view  but  the  glory  of  my  Master  and  the 
good  of  immortal  souls,  I  am  come  to  the  follow- 
ing conclusion,  to  pay  you  another  visit  for  three 
months,  and  if  in  the  course  of  that  time  the  people 
can  be  formed  into  a  church,  and  will  submit  to 
what  is  generally  called  independent  or  congrega- 
tional discipline;  if  they  seem  happy  among  them- 
selves, and  with  me,  and  if  the  Lord  be  pleased  to 
make  me  useful,  and  the  work  appears  to  prosper. 


11EV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  223 


you  need  not  then  be  afraid  of  my  deserting  you. 
But  to  be  precipitate  and  to  give  a  positive  answer 
to  a  call,  before  I  know  what  a  people  are,  (or  they 
know  what  I  am,)  and  before  I  know  whether  it 
will  be  a  situation  conducive  to  profit  and  happiness, 
I  sav,  I  think  this  would  be  wrong.  I  must  confess 
that  I  believe  you  stand  in  need  of  a  minister,  and  I 
hope  there  is  a  prospect  of  usefulness.  But  let  me 
remind  you  particularly  of  this  one  thing;  that  whe- 
ther I  or  any  other  minister  come  among  you,  his 
happiness  depends  upon  your  prayers  and  conduct. 
If  you  wish  to  have  a  person  to  preach  well,  to  pray 
well,  to  live  well,  O  do  not  forget  him  when  you  ad- 
dress the  throne  of  grace.  His  trials  are  more  than 
are  known,  he  meets  with  difficulties  which  many 
are  strangers  to,  his  work  is  of  the  most  awful,  the 
most  arduous  nature.  I  beseech  you,  therefore,  my 
dear  friends,  never  to  neglect  praying  for  your  mi- 
nister, whoever  he  be,  lest  you  should  find  the  con- 
sequence of  it,  by  being  fed  with  that  which  will 

not  in  reality  support  the  soul As  to  myself,  you 

have  already  had  a  specimen  of  my  preaching,  and 
if  the.  truth  be  spoken,  you  must  witness  that  I  have 
endeavoured  to  guard  against  legality  on  the  one 
hand,  and  Antinomianism  on  the  other.  I  wish  to 
exalt  Jesus  Christ  and  debase  the  sinner,  or  at  least 
to  represent  him  as  debased,  and  that  he  never  can 
do  any  thing  by  way  of  merit,  nor  ever  can  come  to 
Christ  without  a  peculiar  exertion  of  free  grace  and 
supernatural  power. 

"  I  have  only  one  thing  more  to  add,  and  that  is 
respecting  the  service.  If  you  cannot  give  up  either 


224  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

part  of  the  day,  as  you  seem  to  think  you  cannot,  I 
propose  the  following  method:  In  the  morning  to 
begin  at  eleven,  to  use  a  short  prayer,  and  expound 
a  little,  so  that  the  service  be  ended  about  twelve. 
In  the  afternoon  to  begin  at  a  quarter  before  three, 
to  leave  out  the  short  prayer  before  the  chapter,  and 
conclude  the  whole  about  four.  In  the  evening  as 
usual.  I  intend,  God  willing,  to  be  with  you  by 
the  first  Sabbath  in  July:  in  the  mean  time  pray  for 
me,  that  my  footsteps  may  be  directed,  and  that  I 
may  seek  to  do  the  will  of  the  Lord,  however  dis- 
agreeable it  may  be  to  flesh  and  blood. 
"  I  remain,  my  dear  friends, 

u  Your  willing  and  humble  servant, 

"  C.  B." 

Having  completed  his  studies  at  the  Academy, 
Mr.  B.  addressed  the  following  letter  of  thanks  to 
the  Chairman  and  Committee  of  the  Evangelical 
Society: 

No.XLL 

"  June  28,  1794. 
"  Gentlemen — Sensible  of  the  advantages  I  have 
derived  from  your  excellent  Institution,  I  think  it 
my  indispensable  duty  to  acknowledge  the  same, 
and  now  desire  to  express  my  gratitude  to  you,  and 
to  the  Lord,  for  the  opportunity  I  have  had  of  in- 
creasing my  small  stock  of  knowledge.  Having  staid 
the  usual  time  ©f  three  years  at  the  Academy,  Pro- 
vidence hath  been  pleased  to  open  a  door,  at  Ban- 
bury, in  Oxfordshire,  from  which  place  I  have  re- 


XEV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  22o 

ceived  an  invitation  to  settle  with  them  as  their 
pastor:  I  have  therefore  engaged  to  go  for  three 
months  to  make  a  trial,  and  now  have  to  intreat 
your  prayers  on  my  behalf,  that  as  the  work  of  the 
ministry  is  of  the  most  important  and  arduous  na- 
ture, I  may  be  enabled  to  sustain  it  with  the  great- 
est faithfulness  and  propriety;  that  I  may  be  kept 
humble  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  and  be  made  the  happy 
instrument  of  doing  good  to  immortal  souls;  and  be 
assured,  you  shall  not  be  forgotten  by  me  at  a 
throne  of  grace,  that  the  Lord  may  in  return  pour 
down  into  your  bosoms  the  best  of  blessings,  and 
reward  you  a  hundred  fold. 

u  I  am,  Gentlemen, 
"  Your  humble  and  willing  servant, 

"  C.  B." 


To  Mr.  Wills,  his  tried  friend  and  judicious  ad- 
viser, Mr.  B.  thus  writes,  and  discloses  the  mourn- 
ful fact,  that  the  congregation  among  whom  he  ex- 
pected to  be  exceedingly  useful,  was  tainted  with 
the  detestable  heresy  to  which  allusion  has  been  al- 
ready made. 

No.  XLII. 

"  Banbury,  July  18,  1794. 
"  My  dear  Sir — Though  I  have  no  very  parti- 
cular intelligence  to  communicate  at  present,  yet  I 
take  the  liberty  of  sending  you  a  few  lines.  I  was 
brought  safe  here,  through  the  mercy  of  our  hea- 
venly Father,  and  kindly  received   by  the   people. 


226  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

They  wish  me  to  continue  with  them,  but  I  can 
form  no  determination  till  I  have  been  longer  with 
and  know  more  of  them,  and  whether  the  Lord  will 
be  pleased  to  make  the  word  prosperous.  Some  few, 
I  am  afraid,  are  rather  leaning  towards  Hunting- 
don's scheme,  which  will  render  it  disagreeable  for 
any  minister  to  settle  with  them;  for  such  people 
in  general,  I  believe,  are  very  dogmatical,  and  are 
the  cause  of  grief  to  many  of  God's  ministers  and 
people- .  I  lately  saw  a  Mr.  Surman,  from  Chesham, 
whom  perhaps  you  know,  and  he  informs  me  there 
are  some  of  these  in  his  congregation,  who  have 
caused  such  distress,  that  he  has  left  the  place  for 
three  months,  and  told  them,  that  except  their  prin- 
ciples be  renounced,  or  their  spirit  altered,  he  can- 
not think  of  returning  again.  They  so  torture  the 
minds,  and  hurt  the  feelings  of  true  believers, 
wherever  they  are,  that  it  is  almost  difficult  to  live 
with  them  with  any  degree  of  peace.  I  cannot  say 
it  is  so  bad  here  at  present,  but  when  persons  im- 
bibe such  sentiments,  they  are  so  positive,  that  there 
is  very  little  hope,  I  think,  of  continuing  with  them 
in  peace,  or  of  doing  them  any  good.  A  question 
therefore  arises,  which  I  submit  to  your  judgment, 
and  wish  you  to  resolve.  Is  it  right  that  I  should 
take  no  notice  of  such  people  and  their  sentiments, 
knowing  that  they  are  so  obstinate,  or  not?  Your 
thoughts  upon  this  subject  I  shall  be  thankful  for, 
as  soon  as  you  have  an  opportunity  to  write.  I  can- 
not say  that  I  am  the  most  fit  in  the  world  to  face 
difficulties;  but,  however,  as  there  can  be  no  faith- 
ful gospel  minister  without  them,  (let  him  be  in 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  227 

what  situation  he  may,)  I  hope  I  shall  receive  all 
that  grace  which  will  be  adequate  to  support,  and 
all  that  wisdom  which  will  be  profitable  to  direct; 
and  there  is  a  degree  of  pleasure  arising  from  this 
consideration,  that  whatever  trial  the  Lord  calls  his 
ministers  or  people  to  suffer,  he  will  strengthen 
them  under  it.  This  is  what  I  could  wish  to  have 
more  impressed  upon  my  mind;  but,  alas!  what 
through  natural  timidity,  and  the  power  of  unbelief, 
I  am  frequently  brought  low,  and  my  mind  filled 
with  gloomy  fears.  I  want  more  strength  from 
above,  to  enable  me  to  endure  hardness  as  a  good 
soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  fight  the  Lord's  battles 
with  courage.  It  is  to  him  I  know  I  must  look — it 
is  from  him  I  must  derive  every  supply.  O!  for 
more  faith  to  trust  him  in  the  darkest  hour,  to  cast 
every  care  upon  him,  knowing  that  he  doth  all 
things  well.  Hope  you,  Mrs.  Wills,  and  Miss 
Thornhill,  enjoy  your  health.  My  best  respects,  if 
you  please;  and  wishing  you  and  they  much  of  our 
dear  Lord's  presence, 

"  I  remain,  dear  Sir, 

k"  Your  willing  servant  in  the  gospel, 
"  C.  B." 

In  his  narrative  of  this  period,  Mr.  B.  observes: 
— u  While  at  Banbury,  I  took  an  opportunity  of 
visiting  Warwick,  and  passed  a  place  called  Edge 
Hill,  where  the  famous  battle  was  fought  between 
the  troops  of  Charles  the  First  and  the  Parliament 
forces,  in  which  there  were  about  five  thousand  slain 
on  the  field  of  battle;  but  both  sides  claimed  the- 


22a  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

victory.  I  preached  for  that  excellent  man  Mr. 
Moody,  whose  praise  for  sweetness  of  temper,  mild- 
ness of  manners,  and  useful  exertions,  is  in  all 
the  churches,  but  who  has  since  entered  into  his 
rest. 

"  I  had  also  the  curiosity  to  visit  the  village  of 
Hanwell,  not  far  from  Banbury,  renowned  for  being 
the  residence,  first,  of  the  famous  Mr.  Dod,  and 
afterwards  of  Dr.  Robert  Harris.  Dr.  Harris  was  a 
learned,  grave,  yet  very  acute  divine:  his  sermons 
may  sometimes  be  met  with  in  one  small  folio  vo- 
lume. Clothed  in  the  language  of  the  age,  they 
abound  with  the  most  striking  and  ingenious  re- 
marks.— He  seemed  to  be  quite  an  original;  and  in 
addressing  Senators  and  persons  of  quality,  he  ma- 
nifested the  same  faithfulness  as  he  did  to  the  poor 
inhabitants  of  Hanwell.  He  preached  here  with 
great  success  for  forty  years;  for  of  Hanwell  it  is 
said,  there  was  not  a  family  in  it  where  God's  name 
was  not  in  some  measure  called  upon,  nor  a  person 
that  refused  to  be  examined  and  instructed  by  him 
for  a  due  partaking  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  His  in- 
come was  not  great;  his  children  were  many;  yet 
he  had  no  lack,  which  he  gratefully  acknowledged, 
saying,  '*  that  there  was  a  secret  blessing  attended 
on  house-keeping,  for  I  am  not  able  to  give  an  ac- 
count of  my  expenses  and  of  God's  supplies."  He 
was  driven  at  last  away  from  this  obscure  village  by 
the  King's  soldiers  in  the  civil  war,  and  became 
minister  of  the  very  parish  where  I  now  write  this, 
St.  Botolph's,  Bishopsgate.  He  afterwards  was  made 
President  of  Trinity  College,  at  Oxford,  and  rector 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK. 


229 


of  Garlington,  near  Oxford,  which  is  always  annex- 
ed to  it.  He  died  in  peace,  12th  December,  1658, 
in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age." 

The  next  place  risked  by  Mr.  Buck  was  Sheer- 
ness,  in  Kent,  where,  under  the  guidance  of  an  in- 
finitely wise  Providence,  he  commenced  the  stated 
labours  of  his  ministry;  and  having  arrived  to  this 
important  period  of  his  life,  we  shall  close  the 
chapter. 


U 


230  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 


CHAP.  III. 

From  the  Commencement  of  Mr.  Buctfs  Labours  at 
Sheerness,  to  his  Removal  from  thence  to  Hackney, 

The  year  1795  was  a  memorable  sera  in  the  history 
of  our  friend.   During  this  year  he  took  the  stated 
charge  of  a  congregation,  entered  into  the  matri- 
monial connection,  and  was  ordained  to  the  pastoral 
office.  One  of  the  principal   reasons  which  induced 
Mr.  Back  to  accept  the  invitation  of  the  indepen- 
dent church  at  Sheerness,  was  the  benefit  which  he 
expected  to  derive  from  the  advice  and  friendship 
of  Mr.  Shrubsole,  their  venerable  minister,  whose 
age  and  infirmities  required  that  some  other  person 
should  be  associated  with  him  in  discharging  the 
duties   of  his   important    station.    Mr.    Buck    was 
deemed,  both  by  Mr.  Shrubsole  and  the  people,  in 
all  respects   qualified  to  fill  the   situation;  and   as 
long  as  Mr.  Shrubsole  lived,  Mr.  B.  rejoiced  in  it 
as  a  sphere  of  great  usefulness  and  comfort.   They 
laboured  together  as  father  and   son  in  the  gospel; 
no  jealousies  arose   to    embitter  their  intercourse; 
there  was   no    presumptuous    forwardness    in    the 
youth,   no  dictatorial  consequence  in  the  senior — 
mutual  affection  inspired  mutual  confidence.  They 
ruled  the  church  in  love;  they  encouraged  neither 
the  slanderer  nor  the  flatterer;  one  was  not  to  be 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  231 

depressed  or  exalted  at  the  expense  of  the  other. 
Thus  upholding  each  other,  the  congregation  re- 
spected and  loved  them  both.  Mr.  S.  did  not  view 
his  youthful  assistant  in  the  character  of  a  rival, 
nor  did  the  assistant  treat  his  venerable  colleague 
as  if  he  unnecessarily  retained  an  office  to  which 
he  was  himself  and  alone  fully  competent.  Who 
can  read  without  pleasure  Mr.  Buck's  account  of 
his  excellent  friend: 

"  At  Sheerness  I  found  much  satisfaction  in  the 
kindness  of  the  friends,  and  the  connection  with  Mr. 
Shrubsole.  Mr.  S.  had  been  remarkably  useful  in 
raising  the  interest  there,  and  laboured  gratis  for 
many  years  with  great  success.  In  him  wc  see  the 
truth  of  the  remark,  that  God  will  preserve  those 
for  whom  he  has  any  work  to  do,  for  Mr.  Shrubsole 
had  many  narrow  escapes.  Once  he  fell  from  the 
side  of  a  ship  then  on  the  stocks,  and  was  preserved 
by  a  scaffold  at  some  distance  from  the  ground:  at 
another  time  he  fell  headlong  from  the  side  of  a 
wharf  into  a  dock,  among  several  boats  and  light- 
ers; he  was  once  bitten  by  a  mad  dog,  when  the 
most  dreadful  apprehensions  were  entertained— but 
in  all  he  was  preserved.  His  Pilgrim  is  a  very  en- 
tertaining work,  a  new  edition  of  which  has  not 
long  since  been  published.  He  was  a  man  of  a  lively 
imagination,  great  spirituality  in  preaching,  and 
possessed  abundance  of  pleasing  anecdotes  to  en- 
liven the  social  circle.  He  died  with  his  hand  in 
mine,  February  7,  1797." 

Finding  that   he   was  now    comfortably  settled, 
Mr-   B.   u  took  unto  himself  a  wife."    Union  of 


232  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

heart  and  of  principle  rendered  this  important  step 
productive  of  great  happiness  to  the  parties  imme- 
diately interested,  and  to  their  family.  It  was  Mr. 
B.'s  privilege  to  view,  in  every  event,  the  care  and 
wisdom  of  an  over-ruling  Providence.  The  senti- 
ment of  Cowper  was  familiar  to  his  heart,  before  it 
appeared  adorned  with  the  piety  and  genius  of  the 
poet. 

"  It  is  the  allotment  of  the  skies, 
The  hand  of  the  supremely  wise, 
That  guides  and  governs  our  affections, 
And  plans  and  orders  our  connexions." 

This  wife  of  hia  youth  was  spared  to  him  through 
all  the  changing  scenes  of  his  mortal  existence.  It 
was  hers  to  watch  over  his  premature  decline,  and 
to  administer  to  him  all  the  soothing  comfort  which 
long-endeared  affection  knows  so  well  how  to  im- 
part. She  survives,  widowed,  but  not  friendless- 
resigned,  but  anticipating  re-union  and  eternal 
blessedness  with  the  spirit  of  him  she  loves,  in  that 
world  where  the  inhabitants  neither  "  marry  nor  are 
given  in  marriage."  Her  children  live  around  her, 
and,  allured  to  the  skies  by  the  bright  example  and 
happy  destiny  of  their  father,  justify  her  affection, 
reward  her  care,  and  animate  her  hope. 

To  Dissenting  Ministers,  the  season  of  their  or- 
dination is  one  of  the  most  impressive  and  import- 
ant in  their  public  life.  It  is  the  precise  point  where 
they  solemnly  review  the  past,  and  look  with  awful 
interest  into  the  future.  It  is  then  they  recognise 
and  confirm  all  the  professions  they  have  ever  made 


... 

ot  relieion 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  23; 


% 


religion,  and  their  devotement  to  the  cause  of  the 
Redeemer,  and  the  charge  of  souls;  that  they  pub- 
ly  and  for  ever  renounce  the  maxims,  the  spirit, 
e  pursuits  of  the  world,  and  before  angels  and  men 
consecrate  their  whole  being  on  the  altar  of  piety; 
then  they  enrol  themselves  with  confessors  and 
martyrs,  and  proclaim  with  apostolic  fervour, 
u  Yea,  doubtless,  and  we  count  all  things  but  loss 
for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord."  Mr.  Buck,  speaking  of  this  event  in 
his  own  life,  observes,  "  A  very  serious  time  was 
now  approaching; — the  season  of  my  ordination. 
For  six  weeks  before,  I  had  no  peace  in  my  mind. 
I  viewed  it  as  a  matter  of  great  importance,  and 
trembled  lest  I  should  not  get  through  with  pro- 
priety; as  I  thought  it  most  proper  at  that  time  to 
deliver  my  experience  and  confession  of  faith  with- 
out any  notes. #  I  made  it  a  matter,  however,  of 
close  application  and  fervent  prayer. f  The  time  ar- 
rived; and  if  ever  I  knew  what  it  was  to  have 
prayer  answered,  and  to  experience  divine  assist- 
ance, it  was  then.  For  about  an  hour  before  we 
commenced  the  service,  all  that  fear  and  anxiety 
which  had  so  long  oppressed  my  mind  was  entirely 
removed,  and  I  felt  such  a  sweetness  and  tranquil- 
lity of  mind,  almost  unknown  to  me  before.  Should 
this  fall  into  the  hands  of  any  in  the  like  circum- 

*  It  is  now,  I  believe,  more  generally  the  case  to  read,  in  or- 
der to  accuracy,  and  to  prevent  agitation  of  mind. 

f  We  held  a  prayer-meeting  also  at  my  house,  in  relation  to 
the  ordination  on  the  preceding  Saturday. 
U2 


234  MEMOIRS  Of  THI 

stances,  let  them  learn  from  hence  to  make  everv 
due  preparation,  get  the  mind  solemnized,  to  be 
much  in  prayer,  and  then  leave  the  event  to  God. 

"  The  ordination  service  was  conducted  in  the 
chapel  at  Sheerness  in  the  following  manner.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Ralph,  of  Maidstone,  began  with  reading 
and  prayer;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bryson,  of  London,  de- 
livered the  address,  and  received  my  confession  of 
faith,  &c;  the  Rev.  Robert  Simpson,  of  Hoxton, 
prayed  the  ordination  prayer,  and  gave  the  charge 
from  1  Tim.  iv.  16.;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shrubsole  ad- 
dressed the  church  and  congregation  from  1  Thess. 
v.  12,  13.;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Leggat,  of  Stroud, 
concluded  with  prayer.  I  was  enabled  to  go  through 
my  department  in  a  manner  far  different  from  what 
I  expected,  and  have  reason  to  say  God  was  with 
me  of  a  truth.  I  rejoiced,  however,  when  it  was 
over,  and  said  to  my  tutor,  u  that  I  had  now  got 
rid  of  a  great  burden.''  His  reply  I  have  often 
thought  of  since — "  But  you  have  taken  a  much 
greater  burden  on."  The  ministers  supped  with  me 
that  evening;  I  thought  it  an  honour  to  have  such  a 
party  under  my  roof — it  was  to  me  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  and  interesting  social  meetings  I  ever  en- 
joyed." 

I  am  perfectly  aware  with  what  a  sneer  of  super- 
cilious contempt  many  dignified  personages  regard 
every  mention  of  dissenting  ordination.  I  know  that 
they  consider  it  an  unhallowed  and  unwarrantable 
assumption  of  a  right  which  is  entrusted  solely  to 
episcopal  hands.  I  have  no  inclination  in  this  place 
to  meet  these  proud  objectors  and  their  arrogant 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  235 

tims;  or  I  could  fully  show  them,  by  the  autho- 
rity of  scripture  and  the  cogency  of  argument,  that 
dissenters  are  qualified  to  designate  to  the  most  sa- 
cred office;  that  their  ministers  are  accredited  pas- 
tors, and  the  various  distinct  societies,  over  which 
they  presrde,  legitimate  churches  of  Christ.  By  this 
assertion  it  will  appear,  that  I  entertain  no  lofty  no- 
tions of  the  clerical  office,  as  a  mysterious  distinc- 
tion of  a  certain  order  of  men.  The  pastors  of  pri- 
mitive times  were  only  the  brethren  of  Christians. 
They  possessed,  they  assumed  no  power.  Their 
station  was  conferred  upon  them  by  the  suffrages  of 
the  people;  their  influence  arose  from  their  charac- 
ters, from  the  talents  and  the  piety  with  which  they 
were  enabled  to  perform  their  spiritual  functions. 
Neither  Apostles  nor  Evangelists  had  successors; 
their  extraordinary  offices  ceased  with  their  lives; 
and  the  New  Testament  recognises  only  two  classes 
of  officers  after  Apostles  and  Evangelists  had  de- 
parted to  the  world  of  glon  ;  these  are  denominat- 
ed Bishops,  i.  e.  overseers;  and  Deacons,  i.  e.  ser- 
vants. To  persons  accustomed  to  behold  lofty 
cathedrals,  episcopal  palaces,  and  all  the  pompous 
retinue  which  await  on  him  who  possesses  a  mitred 
brow,  the  term  Bishop  is  a  most  imposing  sound: 
but  in  the  New  Testament,  it  refers  to  a  simple 
man,  surrounded  by  a  number  of  individuals,  who 
form  themselves  into  a  voluntary  society,  that  they 
may  mutually  enjoy  the  ordinances  of  Christ,  and 
who  have  appointed  him  to  be  their  officiating  mi- 
nister. Deacons  are  personages  of  equally  humble 
origin  and  pretensions.  One  or  more  of  these  are  to 


236  MEMOIRS    OF  THE 

be  found  in  such  a  society  as  I  have  described,  and 
are  only  distinguished  from  their  brethren  by  their 
superior  talents,  zeal,  and  piety,  and  by  their  ma- 
naging, as  trustees  chosen  by  the  body,  their  tem- 
poral affairs.  In  this  view  of  the  subject,  Christianity 
fully  manifests  its  character,  as  a  religion  of  the 
heart,  as  being  the  choice  of  all  who  really  deserve 
its  name,  and  as  distinguished  by  simplicity  and  spi- 
rituality. Thus  it  commends  itself  to  every  man  as 
a  reasonable  service.  Its  institutions  and  its  officers 
are  such  as  we  might  naturally  expect  to  originate 
from  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  the  unpretending  fish- 
ermen of  Gallilee.  In  an  evil  hour,  pastors  and 
churches  suffered  the  idea  of  secular  greatness  and 
magnificence  to  captivate  their  minds.  Worldly 
prosperity  infected  them  with  a  worldly  spirit;  and 
after  a  lapse  of  centuries,  bishops  became  princes, 
and  churches  principalities,  over  which  they  ruled 
with  uncontrollable  authority.  Then  the  gold  be- 
came dim,  and  the  fine  gold  was  changed.  It  was 
the  interest  of  men  so  corrupted  to  dignify  them- 
selves, and  mysteriously  to  attach  to  their  persons, 
occult  qualities  suited  to  their  newly  assumed  sta- 
tions. Hence  the  notion  of  apostolic  succession  and 
delegated  powers.  Then  the  Scriptures  were  wrest- 
ed to  speak  a  language  foreign  to  the  simplicity  of 
their  meaning,  and  the  writings  of  the  first  fathers 
suffered  interpolation,  to  support  the  high  preten- 
sions of  those  who  were  preparing  the  throne  for 
Antichrist,  and  who  at  length  armed  him  with  the 
prerogatives  of  Deity  and  the  thunderbolts  of  hea- 
ven. Then  the  priestly  office  ceased  to  require  per- 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  237 

sonal  qualifications  or  the  suffrages  of  the  church* 
The  people  became  nothing,  and  the  very  name  of 
church  was  transferred  from  them  to  the  clergy. 
Thus  originated  the  unscriptural  notions  on  ordi- 
nation, which  are  the  bane  and  the  disgrace  of  cer- 
tain churches  professedly  reformed.  They  existed 
in  full  operation  in  the  church  of  Rome,  and  were 
essential  to  the  system  of  chicanery  and  delusion 
which  that  church  found  it  expedient  to  maintain. 
In  that  church  bishops  claimed  to  be  the  successors 
in  a  lineal  descent  from  the  apostles,  and  assumed 
to  themselves  mysterious  powers,  which  the  apostles 
neither  exercised  nor  professed.  They,  and  they 
only,  could  make  a  priest;  by  the  laying  on  of  their 
hands  they  could  convey  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  every 
person  so  ordained  by  them  became  sacred.  An  in- 
delible badge  of  peculiar  dignity  was  put  upon  him, 
of  which  neither  guilt,  heresy,  nor  damnation  itself 
could  divest  him.  A  priest  once  and  for  ever.  The 
endowed  church  of  our  own  country  believes  the 
same  doctrine.  Her  ministers  are  not  chosen  by  the 
people;  personal  piety,  knowledge,  and  holy  zeal, 
are  not  indispensable  requisites  to  precede  ordina- 
tion; for  it  is  often  performed,  where  there  is  a 
total  deficiency  in  them  all,  nay,  where  vice  assumes 
its  grossest  and  most  scandalous  forms.  In  order  to 
invest  with  adventitious  splendour  diocesan  episco- 
pacy, even  a  reformed  and  Protestant  church  will 
maintain  that  its  bishops  are  the  descendants  and 
successors  of  the  apostles:  to  uphold  this  notion,  it 
demands  for  them  one  of  the  prerogatives  of  God, 
and  that  this  prerogative  may  be  exercised,  it  makes 


238  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

ordination  an  inexplicable  something,  unknown  to 
Christianity,  and  repugnant  to  common  sense.  If 
the  question  be  asked,  whether  the  apostles  appoint- 
ed successors?  and  if  the  decision  of  the  question  be 
referred  to  scripture,  it  cannot  be  proved  in  the  af- 
firmative; on  the  contrary  it  is  disproved  by  the 
whole  tenor  of  the  New  Testament. 

If  it  be  again  asked  how  the  bishops  of  a  church, 
which  did  not  exist  till  the  sixteenth  century,  and 
which  was  created  by  an  act  of  the  civil  legislature, 
can  be  the  lineal  successors  of  the  apostles?  we  find 
ourselves  in  a  still  greater  perplexity.  "They  are 
forced  to  take  refuge  in  the  episcopal  succession  of 
the  church  of  Rome,  to  avoid  the  charge  of  want  of 
authority  preferred  against  them  by  that  church,  and 
have  no  objection  thus  to  become  allied  to  him  whom 
they  denominate  Antichrist;  utterly  unmindful  of 
such  puzzling  enquiries  as  these,  Whether  in  its 
transmission  through  so  impure  a  channel,  the  suc- 
cession might  not  be  broken?  Whether,  when  there 
were  different  pretenders  to  the  chief  see,  each  with 
apparently  equal  claims,  amidst  so  much  political 
strife,  the  legitimate  head  might  not  have  been  re- 
jected, and  the  false  one  recognised?  To  be  serious, 
can  there  be  any  idea  much  more  revolting  to  the 
mind  of  one,  who,  with  the  New  Testament  in  his 
hand,  thinks  for  himself,  than  that  Christ  recognises 
the  succession  of  bishops  from  the  days  of  the  apos- 
tles, as  a  succession  of  officers  to  whom  he  has 
entrusted  the  direction  of  affairs  in  his  church,  and 
to  whom  a  man  ought  to  look  as  the  fountain  of  spi- 
ritual authority?"  Before  I  believe  this,  I  must  burn 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  239 

and  forget  my  bible.  Bat  the  farce  of  pretending  to 
transform  vice  into  virtue,  and  to  make  a  man  a 
priest  who  is  almost  a  demon,  or  even  of  making  a 
good  man  better,  and  a  wise  man  wiser,  by  the  words 
and  hand  of  one  of  these  authorized  dignitaries,  is 
perhaps  more  ridiculous  than  the  fooleries  we  have 
already  exposed.  Ordination  is  neither  a  mystery,  a 
sacrament,  nor  a  conveyance  of  official  power,  and 
episcopal  ordination,  where  the  church  neither  votes 
nor  recognises,  is  a  nonentity.  For  the  full  disclo- 
sure and  confirmation  of  the  sentiments  here  ad- 
vanced, I  refer  the  inquiring  reader  to  the  Eclectic 
Review,  from  which  several  of  these  observations 
are  borrowed,  and  I  shall  for  the  present  take  leave 
of  the  subject,  with  an  admirable  quotation  from  that 
val  u  abl  e  j  o  u  rn  aL  * 

"  What  could  episcopal,  or  any  other  ordination, 
have  imparted  to  such  a  minister  as  Doddridge?  the 
sanctity  of  his  principles,  the  validity  of  his  minis- 
trations, the  usefulness  of  his  labours,  and  the  glory 
which  awaited  his  retirement  from  the  world  in 
which  he  had  lived  only  for  its  amendment,  could 
have  received  no  accession  from  the  hands  of  bish- 
ops and  pastors, 

"  Intaminatis  fulget  honoribus." 

Can  any  statement  be  more  gross,  than  that  all  per~ 
sons  ordained  by  a  bishop  are  ipse  facto  made  true 

*  I  do  not  recollect  any  one  article:  but  all  the  critiques  which 
regard  the  controversy  between  churchmen  and  dissenters  are 
by  the  hand  of  a  master.  It  is  much  easier  to  rail  at,  than  to  an- 
swer them. 


240  EMOIRS  OF  THE 

ministers  of  Christ?  Can  any  thing  make  them  min- 
isters of  Christ,  who  are  utter  strangers  to  his  grace, 
void  of  Christian  knowledge,  lovers  of  pleasure  more 
than  lovers  of  God,  profane,  caring  for  no  man's 
soul,  and  the  companions  of  the  unholy?  who  make 
a  gain  of  godliness,  and  enter  the  church  from  the 
most  degrading  motives,  that  they  may  be  support- 
ed by  its  revenues,  while  there  exists  within  them  a 
radical  aversion  to  the  function  which  they  assume? 
Are  these,  we  say,  the  true  ministers  of  Christ? 
these  the  persons  duly  authorized  to  bring  "  man 
into  a  covenant  of  grace  with  his  offended  Maker," 
who  are  themselves  enemies  to  God  by  wicked 
works?  Can  the  mere  repeating  of  a  form  of  prayer, 
and  the  heartless  reading  of  a  hurried  sermon,  ma- 
nifest the  presence  and  ensure  the  grace  of  God  to 
the  attendants  in  a  parish  church,  because  these  men 
have  been  episcopally  ordained?  No  inconsiderable 
number  of  such  persons  remain,  after  the  hands  of 
the  bishop  have  been  laid  upon  them,  '  in  the  gall  of 
bitterness  and  the  bond  of  iniquity,'  and  go  forth  in- 
to the  stations  which  money,  or  political  influence, 
or  family  connexions  have  procured  for  them  in  the 
church,  only  to  counteract  the  tendencies  of  the  gos- 
pel, with  the  principles  of  which  their  whole  lives 
are  at  variance,  and  to  aid  the  triumphs  of  infidels 
and  wicked  men,  as  Judas,  after  he  had  received  the 
sop,  went  out  to  finish  his  sin  in  the  betraying  of 
Christ.  What  does  episcopal  ordination  convey? 
Does  it  convey  genius,  or  talents,  or  piety,  or  wis- 
dom, or  spiritual  gifts  of  any  description,  or  aptness 
to  teach?  What  are  the  advantages  of  episcopal  or- 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  241 

dination?  Is  it  not  passing  strange,  that  we  should 
be  bidden  to  look  at  men  as  the  successors  of  the 
apostles,  who  admit  into  the  ministry  persons  desti- 
tute of  Christian  knowledge,  uninfluenced  by  Chris- 
tian principles,  profane  in  their  conversation,  and 
notorious  for  the  worldliness  of  their  spirit,  and  the 
levity  of  their  manners?  And  is  it  less  amazing,  that 
these  persons  should  come  as  authorized  ministers 
to  congregations,  who  never  sent  for  them,  who  do 
not  even  desire  them?" 

I  have  dwelt  somewhat  longeron  this  subject  than 
perhaps  strictly  befits  the  leading  object  of  my  work. 
But  churchmen,  in  writing  the  lives  of  churchmen, 
have  set  me  the  example,  and  I  conceive,  that  what- 
ever be  the  vehicle,  the  sentiments  themselves  are 
seasonable,  and  imperiously  called  for  by  the  spirit 
of  the  hierarchy.  The  exploded  and  execrable  doc- 
trines of  the  divine  right  of  kings,  and  the  divine 
right  of  episcopacy,  have  experienced  a  revival  and 
circulation  in  this  enlightened  age,  that  may  well 
amaze  and  astound  the  friends  of  liberty  and  reli- 
gion; and  their  loudest  and  most  virulent  abettors 
are  to  be  found  among  those  who  affect  a  more  scrip- 
tural faith,  and  a  stricter  non- conformity  to  the  spi- 
rit and  maxims  of  the  world,  than  the  rest  of  their 
clerical  brethren. 

It  was  the  happiness  of  the  church  at  Sheerness, 
to  have  a  pastor  ordained  over  them  who  possessed 
every  gift  and  virtue  required  in  the  sacred  func- 
tion, and  on  whom  ordination  had  nothing  to  confer. 
How  zealously  he  laboured,  how  holily  he  lived,  we 
may  in  some  manner  judge  bv  the  private  papers 

X 


242  MEMOIRS  OF  TIfE 

and  letters,  which  were  written  by  him  during  his 
residence  at  this  place;  a  few  extracts  from  which 
and  his  narrative  shall  close  the  chapter. 

"Tuesday,    October    20,    1795 When    I   look 

back,  and  consider  how  little  I  have  done  for  God, 
how  little  good  I  have  done  for  my  fellow  creatures, 
and  what  little  progress  I  have  made  in  the  divine 
life,  I  have  great  cause  to  be  humbled  and  ashamed. 
Time  I  have  had,  opportunities  have  been  presented 
to  me,  and  privileges  I  have  been  surrounded  with, 
yet  how  little  have  I  improved  them  for  the  glory  of 
my  Divine  Master;  however  I  desire  to  be  thankful 
that  I  have  reason  to  believe  the  good  work  of  his 
grace  is  begun  in  my  heart.  Lord  quicken  me  to 
greater  diligence.  Let  my  heart  burn  with  greater 
zeal  and  lively  aifection.  Let  Jesus  be  my  portion 
and  the  strength  and  joy  of  my  heart  for  ever  and 
ever. 

"  Preached  this  evening  at  Sheerness,  on  Psalm 
xxii.  27,  28,  and  found  some  degree  of  liberty  in 
speaking  of  the  glories  of  my  Divine  Master. 
Preaching  is  heavy  work  without,  but  happy  work 
with  his  smiles.  O  that  I  may  enjoy  more  of  his  di- 
vine influence  in  my  public  ministrations,  and  be 
made  useful  to  immortal  souls. 

"Wednesday,  October  21.— Went  this  afternoon 
to  Queenborough,  and  preached  in  the  evening  to 
my  little  flock  there.  I  can  truly  say  that  I  often  find 
some  pleasure  in  speaking  at  this  place,  and  have 
reason  to  think  that  the  Lord  has  work  to  do  here. 
May  I  do  all  that  I  can  to  forward  it  by  my  prayers, 
example,  and  public  labours.  Lord  help  me  to  study 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  243 

for  the  good  of  souls,  to  adopt  every  plan,  and  pur- 
sue every  measure  that  I  conceive  will  promote  their 
eternal  welfare.  Quicken  me,  O  Lord,  for  thy  work, 
prepare  me  more  for  it,  support  me  in  it,  and  carry 
me  through  it  with  great  success.   Amen. 

u  Thursday,  October  22. — Attended  the  prayer 
meeting  this  evening;  did  not  find  so  much  life  and 
comfort  as  I  have  done  sometimes,  yet  was  a  little 
affected  on  singing  that  sweet  hymn,  "  Give  me  the 
wings  of  faith  to  rise,"  &c.  Social  prayer  meetings 
are  certainly  commendable  and  profitable,  and  had 
we  but  more  grace  we  should  be  more  engaged  in 
them.  O  may  I  ever  love  them  and  be  happy  while 
attending  them. 

"  Friday,  October  23. — Find  it  somewhat  diffi- 
cult to  get  texts  and  subjects  to  preach  on,  and  am 
sometimes  afraid  I  shall  say  all  that  I  can  say,  and 
that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  keep  up  any  degree  of  va- 
riety. However  let  me  study  and  preach  the  word, 
as  God  shall  assist  me.  It  is  his  work,  and  I  must 
look  to  him  alone  for  support  in  it.  Support  I  have 
found  in  time  past  and  why  not  in  time  to  come. 

"Note. — I  think  that  a  spiritual  frame  of  mind 
and  much  prayer  to  God  are  the  best  methods,  and 
most  useful  to  find  subjects,  as  well  as  to  discourse 
on  them.  O  Lord  help  me  always  to  keep  up  cor- 
respondence with  thee,  and  never  let  me  sink  into 
a  state  of  stupor  and  coldness. 

•>  Monday,  October  26. — Drank  tea  at  Rev.  Mr. 
Shrubsole's  with  a  few  friends.  Had  some  agree- 
able conversation  with  them.  How  pleasant  is  it  to 
meet  in  friendship,  and  discourse  with  liberty,  es- 


244  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

pecially  about  the  best  things.  May  my  tongue  be  as 
the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  to  set  forth  the  excellen- 
cies of  my  dear  Master.  Let  me  talk  more  about 
him,  and  less  about  the  vanities  of  this  world. 

"Wednesday,  October  28.— Attended  Church 
meeting;  but  few  members  present.  Meetings  of  this 
kind  are  very  useful  to  regulate  the  business  of  the 
church,  but  should  always  be  carried  on  with  much 
judgment,  great  love,  and  due  consideration.  Alas! 
how  many  congregations  are  there  who  observe  no 
order  or  proper  discipline,  and  never  assemble  to 
adopt  plans  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  nor  meet 
to  pray  that  God  may  prosper  them.  O  Lord,  grant 
that  this  Church,  over  which  thou  in  thy  providence 
hast  placed  me,  may  be  remarkable  for  zeal,  love, 
and  devotion.  Let  us  have  a  spirit  of  discernment, 
to  do  all  things  with  discretion  and  wisdom,  and  a 
spirit  of  holiness  to  enable  us  to  act  for  thy  glory, 
and  each  other's  good. 

"  Thursday,  October  29. — Gave  an  exhortation 
this  evening  preparatory  to  the  ordinance  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  next  Sabbath  day.  O  Lord,  water 
the  word,  and  bless  our  souls.  May  we  feast  on  thy 
goodness,  and  ever  remember  thy  great  love  in  dy- 
ing for  us.-  Keep  this  in  remembrance,  O  my  soul, 
and  be  grateful. 

"  Yesterday  I  finished  reading  Mr.  Romaine's 
Letters;  they  are  savory,  and  the  grand  subject  is 
Jesus.  In  this  the  author  gloried,  and  by  his  writ- 
ing appears  as  if  he  had  been  wholly  taken  up  in  the 
happy  contemplation  of  his  excellencies.  May  this 
little  book  be  blessed  to  all  who  read  it. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  245" 


this  day  of  something  to  say  for  my  Master  to- 
morrow. How  little  am  I  able  to  enter  into  the  spi- 
rit of  divine  subjects;  how  little  impressed  with  a. 
sense  of  the  awfulness  of  my  commission.  How  lit- 
tle do  I  study  for  the  welfare  of  immortal  souls.  O 
Lord,  make  me  all  attention,  action,  and  concern  for 
their  good.  It  is  true  that  if  I  could  present  all  the 
fire  of  hell  to  their  nostrils,  all  the  glories  of  hea- 
ven to  their  eyes,  all  the  noise  of  damned  souls  to 
their  ears,  I  could  not  convert  them,  yet  it  is  my 
incumbent  duty  to  make  use  of  every  mean,  and 
do  all  that  I  can  as  an  instrument  for  their  benefit. 
Lord,  it  is  thy  work,  bless  me  in  it.  Amen. 

"Sabbath  day,  November  1. — This  day  for  the 
first  time  I  administered  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's 
Supper;  though  I  felt  some  degree  of  tremor,  yet 
was  carried  through  it  with  comfort  I  trust  to  my- 
self as  well  as  to  others.  May  the  Lord  grant  that 
I  may  always  find  this  a  refreshing  ordinance  to  my 
soul.  In  the  afternoon  preached  from  John  xiv.  6, 
and  in  the  evening  from  2  Cor.  viii.  9,  and  both 
times  felt  something  of  my  Master's  presence;  on 
the  whole  it  has  been  a  delightful  Sabbath  to  my 
soul.  Jesus  I  trust  has  been  my  theme,  and  on  him 
have  I  this  day  feasted.  O  precious  bread  of  life, 
may  I  learn  to  live  more  upon  thee,  and  thus  find 
strength  in  my  soul.  I  thank  thee  for  this  Sabbath^ 
and  may  the  word  this  day  preached  be  blessed  to 
the  conversion  and  comfort  of  souls. 

"  Thursday,   November    5. — This   day  finished 
reading  Charnock  on  the  Attributes  of  God.  Must 

X  2 


246  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

confess  it  is  an  admirable  book,  and  well  worthy  of 
the  perusal  of  all  who  wish  to  "gain  information  for 
the  mind,  or  consolation  for  the  heart.  He  is  a  ner- 
vous and  useful  writer,  and  abounds  with  originali- 
ty of  idea  and  strength  of  expression.  As  a  speci- 
men, I  just  set  down  the  following  sentence,  when 
speaking  of  the  power  and  unchangeableness  of  God 
he  says,  w  what  can  make  him  change  his  purposes, 
who,  if  he  please,  can  dash  the  earth  against  the  hea- 
vens in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  untying  the  world 
from  its  centre,  clap  the  stars  and  elements  together 
into  one  mass,  and  blow  the  whole  creation  of  men 
and  devils  into  nothing."  May  the  Lord  grant  that 
the  truths  I  have  therein  read  may  be  ever  impress- 
ed upon  my  mind. 

44  Friday  morning,  November  6. — This  morning 
early  we  were  alarmed  by  a  violent  storm  of  wind; 
but  have  great  reason  to  be  thankful  for  preserva- 
tion. A  house  near  us  had  one  end  of  it  blown 
down;  numbers  of  tiles  from  our  house,  and  many 
others,  were  blown  off.  The  frame  of  the  new  cha- 
pel at  Queenborough,  and  the  frame  of  a  house 
opposite  us  blown  down;  a  ship  at  the  Nore  dis- 
masted, and  much  damage  elsewhere  it  is  to  be  fear- 
ed was  done.  O  Lord,  what  is  the  world  and  all 
things  in  it  to  thee,  thou  canst  dash  all  to  pieces  in 
a  moment  with  a  breath.  It  is  only  for  thee  to  speak 
the  word,  and  elements  shall  rage,  the  earth  reel  to 
and  fro,  and  all  thy  works  of  creation  appear  in  con- 
fusion. Thou  art  indeed  an  awful  God,  but  if  thou 
art  mine,  then  with  joy  shall  I  look  up,  when  the 
sun  shall  be  turned  into  darkness,  and  the  pillars  of 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  247 

the  world  tremble.  O  Lord,  may  I  have  an  interest 
in  thy  favour,   I  desire  no  more. 

"  Saturday,  November  14. — Desire  to  be  thank- 
ful for  temporal  mercies.  What  a  mercy  to  have 
bread  to  eat,  raiment  to  wear,  and  a  habitation  to 
dwell  in!  How  many  are  destitute  of  these  bless- 
ings, and  know  not  what  it  is  to  have  a  friend  to 
relieve,  or  any  to  sympathize  with  them. 

"  Note. — The  best  way  I  find  to  cure  discontent 
and  excite  gratitude,  is  to  consider  how  many  there 
are  in  a  worse  situation  than  myself;  may  I  look 
within,  around,  and  be  thankful. 

"  Monday,  November  16. — Visited  a  man  sup- 
posed to  be  at  the  point  of  death,  whom  I  found  so 
weak  as  hardly  to  be  capable  of  speaking.  Though 
I  could  not  learn  whether  there  was  a  work  begun 
in  his  heart,  or  not,  yet  he  seemed  to  acquiesce  in 
all  I  said.  Read  a  chapter  and  went  to  praver. 
Much  is  to  be  learnt  by  visiting  sick  beds.  Happv 
are  they,  who  when  brought  to  the  confines  of  an 
eternal  world,  can  say,  that  they  are  safely  founded 
on  the  Rock  of  Ages.  May  this  be  the  case  with 
me  in  that  awful  hour. 

"  Note. — O  my  soul,  often  frequent  death  beds 
to  learn  what  it  is  to  die. 

"  Tuesday,  November  1 7. — Read  six  sermons, 
preached  in  London  at  the  formation  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society.  Found  both  pleasure  and  profit  in 
the  perusal  of  them;  hope  the  intended  plan  of  pro- 
pagating the  gospel  in  foreign  parts  will  be  carried 
into  execution,  and  earnestly  pray  that  the  Lord  may 
abundantly  bless  the  labours  of  those  who  embark 


248  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

in  this  noble  cause.  O  that  the  happy  period  may 
soon  arrive,  when  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  shall  be  es- 
tablished throughout  the  world;  may  his  word  have 
such  powerful  effect,  that  angels  in  heaven  may  ex- 
ult and  glory,  that  saints  on  earth  may  sing  and 
rejoice,  that  devils  in  hell  may  fear  and  tremble. 
Amen. 

u  Thursday,  November  26. — This  day  finished 
reading  Boston's  Crook  in  the  Lot,  it  is  an  excel- 
lent piece,  and  well  worthy  the  perusal  of  every  af- 
flicted Christian.  He  there  shows  we  must  all  have 
a  crook  in  our  lot,  let  our  situations  be  what  they 
will  in  this  world.  O  may  I  be  resigned  to  the  so- 
vereign will  and  pleasure  of  my  heavenly  Master, 
and  whatever  crook  I  may  have  may  it  be  sanctifi- 
ed by  his  blessing.   Amen. 

a  Sabbath  day,  November  29. — Preached  this 
morning  and  evening  at  Sheerness,  and  heard  Mr, 
Shrubsole  in  the  afternoon.  Though  I  have  had  bet- 
ter Sabbaths,  yet  I  desire  to  be  thankful  for  this. 
Any  help,  the  least  comfort  from  my  God,  is  more 
than  I  deserve.  O  for  the  happy  period  when  I  shall 
enter  into  the  fulness  of  joy. 

"Tuesday,  December  1. — Heard  Mr.  Hill  this 
evening,  at  our  chapel,  from  1  Pet.  i.  8.  A  great 
many  people  attended,  and  it  was,  I  believe,  a  most 
happy  season,  at  least  it  was  so  to  my  own  soul.  O 
for  more  of  these  delightful  opportunities.  Spent 
the  evening  with  him  at  Mr.  Michel's,  in,  I  trust, 
an  agreeable  and  profitable  manner. 

"  Wednesday,  December  2. — Attended  Church 
meeting.  Two  persons  were  proposed  as  members. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  249 

O  that  the  Lord  may  go  on  to  increase  our  num- 
ber. I  want  to  see  a  revival  here.  May  many  be 
stirred  up  to  come  and  join  themselves  with  us — 
hope  there  is  a  little  prospect  of  it.  Concluded  in 
prayer,  felt  some  little  liberty.  O  for  an  enlarged 
heart  at  all  times,  when  engaged  in  the  service  of 
God. 

"  Saturday,  December  5. — Finished  reading  the 
first  volume  of  Lambert's  Sermons.  Think  him  to 
be  a  tolerable  composer,  his  language  pleasing,  his 
divisions  just,  and  on  the  whole  a  useful  writer. 
Happy  for  them  who  always  keep  the  right  end  in 
view,  and  in  preaching  or  writing,  address  the 
heart  and  conscience.  This  is  the  vvay,  I  believe,  to 
do  most  good.  May  I  ever  adopt  it. 

"Tuesday,  December  15. — Preached  at  Sheer- 
ness,  on  Heb.  xii.  12,  13.  My  subject  led  me  to 
speak  of  those  who  are  weak  in  the  faith;  but,  ob- 
served for  their  encouragement,  that,  as  a  man 
might  be  lame,  as  the  text  represents,  and  yet  that 
would  be  no  proof  against  his  being  a  man,  so  the 
weakness  of  a  Christian  is  no  proof  against  his  being 
a  Christian.  Spoke  of  the  words  in  the  following 
manner. 

"  1.  A  case  supposed,  Christian  lame,  weak,  de- 
jected, &c. 

"  2.  Advice  given,  lift  up  the  hands  which  hang 
down,  &c. 

"  3.  The  argument  used,  lest  that  which  is  lame, 
&c. 

"  Though  I  found  myself  comfortable  in  medi- 
tating on  the  words,  before   I  preached  on  them, 


250  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

yet  did  not  experience  that  liberty  which  I  could 
have  wished  in  speaking  to  the  people.  May  the 
Lord  grant,  however,  that  good  may  be  done. 

"  Sabbath-day,  December  20. — Preached  three 
times  at  Sheerness,  in  the  morning  from  Cant.  v.  2, 
6.  In  the  afternoon  from  1  John  v.  20.  And  in  the 
evening  from  Isa.  lii.  3.  Was  this  day  much  encou- 
raged, by  hearing  of  one  being  brought  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth,  under  my  ministry  in  this  place, 
for  which  I  desire  to  be  exceedingly  thankful.  It 
has  been  often  matter  of  grief  to  me,  that  I  could 
not  see  any  fruits  of  my  labours  here.  O  that  this 
instance  may  be  a  stimulus  to  excite  me  to  go  on  in 
the  work.  Thou,  Lord,  knowest  that  it  is  my  sin- 
cere desire  to  bring  souls  to  thee,  for  that  end  there- 
fore do  thou  enable  me  to  pray,  and  labour  much  that 
I  may  be  blessed  in  the  work. 

"  Thursday  evening. — Mr.  Shrubsole  gave  the 
exhortation,  preparatory  to  the  Lord's  supper  next 
sabbath.  The  words  he  chose  were  these,  u  Be  cloth- 
ed with  humility."  Made  some  useful  remarks 
which  I  pray  may  l>e  fixed  on  all  our  minds.  This 
is  the  last  day  of  the  year.  O  how  little  have  I  done 
for  God  and  immortal  souls.  How  little  have  I  im- 
proved the  time,  and  what  little  progress  I  have 
made  in  knowledge,  love,  humility,  and  every  grace, 
yet,  I  would  bless  God  that  he  hath  not  given  me 
up  to  my  own  corruptions,  nor  suffered  me  to  go 
astray  from  him.  In  regard  to  the  church,  with 
which  I  am  connected,  on  a  review  of  things  from 
the  time  I  first  came,  have  every  reason  to  think 
that  matters  are  in  much  better  order  than  then,  as 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  251 

the  ordinances  are  regularly  administered,  seats  let, 
and  members  admitted,  and  good  done.  May  the 
Lord  go  on  to  prosper  the  church,  and  may  I  do  all 
I  can  to  promote  the  welfare  thereof.  Lord  make 
bart-  thine  arm,  and  cause  thy  word  to  take  deep 
root  in  every  heart. 

a  Friday,  January  1, 1796. — This  is  a  memorable 
day;  my  dear  wife  was  delivered  of  a  son,  about  a 
quarter  before  eight  o'clock  this  evening.  Never  did 
I  feel  so  much  by  sympathy  before,  but  desire  to  be 
thankful  for  this  safe  deliverance.  O  Lord,  remem- 
ber Jus  child;  should  he  live,  let  him  live  for  thee;* 
May  he  be  thine  in  every  sense,  a  partaker  of  grace 
here,  and  eternal  glory  hereafter. 

"  Thursday,  Jan.  14. — Attended  the  prayer  meet- 
ing this  evening.  Though  my  mind  was  very  wan- 
dering before  I  engaged  in  prayer,  yet  hope  it  was  a 
profitable  season.  In  general  I  find  as  much,  if  not 
more  liberty  in  prayer  on  these  occasions,  as  I  do 
when  engaged  in  the  more  public  service  on  Lord's 
day.  This  I  would  take  as  an  encouragement  to  go 
on,  for  I  sometimes  think  that  I  shall  have  little  or 
no  matter,  or  variety  in  my  addresses  to  the  throne. 
But  the  Lord  often  disappoints  me  in  this. 

"  Note. — Never  be  afraid  of  praying  too  much. 
A  warm  heart  and  often  exercise  will  teach  me  to 
pray  -well, 

"Tuesday,  January 26. — Finished  reading  the  se- 
cond volume  of  Milner's  Ecclesiastical  History.  He 

*  This  prayer  is  answered.  Mr.  C.  Buck  is  devoting  himself 
to  the  ministry,  and  is  pursuing  a  course  of  studies  at  Oxford. 


252  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

appears  to  be  a  sensible  writer,  but  I  cannot  coin- 
cide with  him,  in  all  his  opinions.  His  chapter  on 
ecclesiastical  establishments,  seems  to  me  weak  and 
contradictory.  Declares  that  he  wishes  the  notion  of 
particular  redemption  were  not  so  common  among 
the  moderns.  He  also  says,  that  separation  from  the 
church  of  England  is  wrong,  except  in  cases  of  total 
corruption.  What  can  I  think  of  such  a  writer  as 
this,  who  really  speaks  little  better  than  error  to  es- 
pouse his  own  cause?  O  that  corruption,  total  or 
partial,  may  ever  be  abhorred  by  me. 

"Tuesday,  February  2 — Heard  Mr.  Slatterie, 
from  Matt.  xvii.  5.  He  made  some  remarks  on  the 
much  controverted  subject,  the  eternal  generation  of 
the  Son  of  God;  said,  that  the  expression  meant  no 
more  than  the  only  begotten,  &c.  and  that  he  believ- 
ed him  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  as  to  his  divine  na- 
ture. 

"  He  afterwards  baptized  my  son  Charles.  O  that 
this  dedication  of  him  to  God,  may  be  followed  with 
a  divine  blessing.  Dear  Lord,  look  upon  him  and 
bless  him.  I  sincerely  and  solemnly  give  him  up  to 
thee.  Should  he  live,  may  he  live  to  thee;  and  may 
I,  and  my  dear  wife,  be  enabled  to  do  our  duty  to- 
wards him  as  parents,  to  bring  him  up  in  the  nur- 
ture and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  Amen.   Amen. 

"Saturday,  February  13.-—  Finished  the  perusal 
of  Dr.  Hawker's  Sermons  on  the  Divinity  and  Ope- 
rations of  the  Holy  Ghost.  His  language  is  rather 
florid,  his  style  neat  and  tolerably  correct.  His  argu- 
ments he  draws  chiefly  from  the  scriptures,  and  de- 
clares that  he    disclaims  all  testimony  but  that  of 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  253 

scripture.  "  In  my  esteem*"  says  he,  "  it  is  not  only 
an  unnecessary  service  to  aim  at  strengthening  by 
secondary  arguments  the  prime  proofs  of  holy  writ; 
but  it  is  forming  an  alloy,  and  that  of  the  basest  kind, 
to  mingle  human  opinions  with  divine  truths.  The 
sacred  book  of  God  can  need  no  collateral  testimony 
from  man."  On  the  whole,  this  is  a  useful  publica- 
tion, well  meant,  and  well  written,  and  I  pray  God  it 
may  be  much  blessed. 

"Thursday,  February  18. — Read  the  Life  and 
Conversion  of  a  Thomas  Bennet.  By  his  own  ac- 
count he  was  a  swearer,  liar,  thief,  &c.  was  cast  for 
transportation,  but  remained  in  prison  for  seven 
years,  where  the  Lord  began  to  work  upon  his  mind; 
here  it  seems  he  was  useful  in  the  conversion  of 
others.  He  insists  upon  it  that  the  king  is  in  dark- 
ness, and  walketh  therein,  or  he  would  not  suffer  the 
bishops  and  clergy  to  teach  who  never  knew  God; 
and  observes,  that  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  is  against 
the  king  for  this.  In  speaking  of  his  being  born 
again,  which  he  says  was  on  the  fourth  of  June,  he 
says  that  his  conversion  was  on  that  day  in  answer  to 
prayer.  He  drawTs  the  comparison  between  the  king's 
birth-day  and  his  spiritual,  thus, — '  O  king  George, 
you  never  knew  such  a  birth-day  as  this.  Your's 
was  of  the  world,  O  king,  but  mine  was  from 
above;  your's  was  natural,  but  mine  spiritual;  men 
rejoice  at  thy  birth-day,  but  angels  at  mine,  &c. 
Thus,  O  king,'  says  he,  4  my  birth- day  is  grander 
than  thine,  and  is  attended  with  better  guests  and 
with  better  harmony  than  thine.'  What  good  end  is 
answered  in  writing  thus,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know, 
Y 


254  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

He  seems  also  to  speak  against  many  brought  up  in 
dissenting  academies;  says  '  he  found  great  comfort 
in  reading  Huntingdon's  Bank  of  Faith,  White- 
field's  Journal,  Romaine's  Life  of  Faith;  and  de- 
clares that  he  was  made  useful  on  board  the  hulks 
at  Woolwich,  &c.  &c.'  If  the  account  be  genuine 
which  he  gives  of  himself,  there  are  some  things 
which  seem  to  be  rather  singular  and  wonderful;  but 
there  are  many  others  which  rather  betray  enthu- 
siasm and  self-conceit;  at  least  it  appears  so  to  me. 
"  May,  1796. — Read  the  diary  of  Mrs.  Arabella 
Davies.  She  appears  to  have  been  one  taught  of 
God,  and  though  often  depressed,  yet  she  enjoyed 
much  of  her  Master's  presence.  O  that  I,  like  her, 
may  never  be  satisfied  with  any  thing  short  of  the 
smiles  of  my  God.  I  find  the  perusal  of  lives  and 
diaries  profitable,  as  I  therein  see  something  of  my 
own  experience  in  the  case  of  others,  yet  would  la- 
ment that  I  feel  so  little  gratitude  to  God  for  his 
distinguishing  grace  towards  any  of  his  creatures, 
in  calling  them  to  the  knowledge  and  enjoyment  of 
the  truth. 

"  May  6. — Have  reason  to  be  thankful  lately  for 
a  temporal  supply.  How  good  is  God  to  grant  me 
enough  by  the  way,  and  I  hope  everlasting  glory  in 
the  end.  O  that  my  heart  were  but  more  affected 
with  a  view  of  the  many  mercies  I  have  received, 
and  that  I  could  but  anticipate  more  the  crown  I 
hope  to  enjoy  in  the  world  above.  Gracious  God, 
raise  me  above  all  sublunary  things,  and  fix  my 
heart  on  thee. 

"  Tuesday,  September  13.— -This  day  finished  the 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  255 

reading  of  Palmer's  Nonconformist's  Memorial. 
Can  say  I  have  read  it  both  with  pleasure  and  pro- 
fit, though  I  have  to  lament  that  I  am  so  far  behind 
those  illustrious  worthies.  They  were  indeed  men 
of  knowledge,  piety,  and  of  a  tender  conscience. 
Rather  than  conform  to  what  they  supposed  to  bo 
inconsistent,  they  left  their  situations,  and  cheerfully 
bore  the  difficulties  they  were  called  to  undergo.  O 
Lord  give  me  the  same  spirit;  give  me  a  clean  con- 
science, that  I  may  have  a  comfortable  one. 

"  Saturday  evening,  October  1. — Have  reason  to 
lament  that  my  mind  is  so  little  engaged  in  and  con- 
versant with  spiritual  things.  How  do  worldly  ob- 
jects take  up  my  attention,  and  how  seldom  can  I 
view  the  solemn  realities  of  the  world  to  come;  yet, 
Lord,  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee,  and  that  it  is 
my  earnest  desire  to  enjoy  more  of  thee  while  in  the 
present  state.  My  heart  indeed  is  sluggish,  my 
thoughts  wavering;  but  yet  I  wish,  earnestly  wish, 
to  be  more  assimilated  to  thy  likeness.  O  gracious 
Redeemer,  quicken  my  soul,  let  me  feel  the  influ- 
ences of  thy  Spirit  more;  draw  me  that  I  may  run 
after  thee;  let  the  vanities  and  things  of  this  world 
have  no  impression  on  my  mind;  open  the  gates  of 
bliss  to  my  soul,  that  I  may  experience  intercourse 
with  thee,  for  here  centres  my  felicity;  say  unto  my 
soul,  I  am  thy  salvation,  and  I  shall  be  happy;  O 
bring  me,  bring  me  nearer  to  thyself. 

"  Thy  only  love,  may  I  require 
Nothing  on  earth  beneath  desire, 
Nothing  in  heaven  above 


256  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

Let  earth  and  all  its  trifles  go, 
Give  me,  O  Lord,  thy  love  to  know, 
Give  me  thy  precious  love." 

"  Tuesday,  October  11. — Two  years  have  ex- 
pired this  day  since  I  first  came  to  this  place.  How 
swiftly  the  time  flies,  and  how  little  improved. 
Hope  my  labours,  however,  on  the  whole  have  not 
been  fruitless,  either  in  the  way  of  conversion  or 
building  up;  I  have  certainly  found  many  happy 
seasons  in  dispensing  his  word  here,  though  I  have 
met  with  difficulties  and  trials  by  the  way;  but  it 
would  not  do  to  be  without  some  troubles,  I  know 
when  sanctified  they  make  me  pray  more  earnestly, 
preach  more  experimentally,  and  live  more  consist- 
ently. But  now,  O  Lord,  I  raise  my  Ebenezer, 
would  look  back  with  thankfulness,  and  look  for- 
ward with  dependance.  Should  nothing  transpire  to 
remove  me  from  this  place,  grant  that  my  useful- 
ness among  the  people  may  be  more  extensive,  my 
humility  more  conspicuous,  and  my  heart  more  dili- 
gently engaged  in  the  sacred  service. 

"Tuesday,  October  18. — Finished  reading  Ful- 
ler's Calvinistic  and  Socinian  Systems  compared  as 
to  their  Moral  Tendency,  in  which,  I  think,  he  evi- 
dently proves  the  Calvinistic  system  to  be  superior 
as  to  the  tendency  to  convert  profligates,  professed 
unbelievers,  to  promote  morality,  love  to  God,  can- 
dour and  benevolence  to  men,  humility,  charity, 
love  to  Christ,  veneration  for  the  scriptures,  happi- 
ness, gratitude,  obedience,  and  heavenly  minded- 
ness.  His  principal  antagonist  seems  to  be  Dr. 
Priestley,  whose  arguments  he  easily  confutes.  His 


. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  257 


anner  of  writing  is  plain,  tolerably  correct,  with 
very  few  exceptionable  expressions.  I  read  it  with, 
pleasure  as  well  as  profit.  Such  a  piece  seems  to  be 
calculated  to  do  good,  especially  among  those  whose 
faith  is  weak,  and  whose  minds  may  sometimes  be 
a  little  hurt  by  a  transient  reflection  on  the  Socinian 
scheme. 

"  Thursday,  October  20. — Attended  Prayer 
Meeting  this  evening,  but  know  not  when  I  enjoyed 
it  so  little.  O  Lord,  forgive  my  insensibility  and 
carelessness  of  heart.  Refused  engaging  in  prayer, 
nor  did  I  hear  others  pray  with  any  comfort.  O  for 
the  happy  season  when  I  shall  never  be  indisposed 
as  to  spiritual  things,  when  my  heart  shall  be  al- 
ways animated,  and  my  tongue  incessantly  engaged 
in  celebrating  the  praises  of  my  God.  Met  with 
something  that  hurt  my  mind;  but  why  should  not 
I  be  sorely  tried  as  well  as  other  ministers?  O 
Lord,  sanctify  it  to  me,  and  I  shall  hear  it  without 
complaint.  Learn,  O  my  soul,  that  ministers  have 
trials  which  other  people  have  not,  but  remember 
also  it  is  more  needful  for  them  than  for  others. 

u  Friday,  October  21. — Have  been  somewhat  in- 
disposed in  body  and  mind  this  day,  so  that  I  have 
not  had  my  usual  relish  for  reading,  studying,  &c. 
as  at  other  times.  What  a  strange  creature  am  I, 
how  easily  disordered,  how  soon  dejected:  but, 
thanks  be  to  God,  his  faithfulness,  his  power,  his 
goodness,  are  the  same.  O  for  a  clearer  view,  richer 
experience,  a  more  copious  enjoyment  of  His  love* 
My  Godr  bless  me  with  thy  smiles,  and  I  will  blesA 
thee  for  them, 

YZ 


258  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

u  Saturday,  October  22. — Know  not  when  I  have 
been  so  distressed  for  subjects  and  texts  to  preach 
on  to-morrow.  After  considering  several  passages, 
could  not  fix  upon  any.  Left  it,  therefore,  until  this 
evening,  when  I  attempted  again,  but  could  not  im- 
mediately find  any  text;  at  last  I  was  delivered 
from  my  distress,  and  found  two,  which  I  was  en- 
abled to  fix  upon  and  study.  In  general  I  am  not 
much  embarrassed  in  finding  subjects:  but  perhaps 
this  trial  to-day  is  to  humble,  and  to  teach  me  that 
I  can  do  nothing  without  my  God,  that  my  studies, 
as  well  as  my  preaching,  ought  to  be  under  his  re- 
gulation, and  that  I  should  make  them  more  a  mat- 
ter of  prayer.  O  Lord,  then  as  I  believe  thou  hast 
called  me  to  the  work,  furnish  me  with  matter,  give 
me  suitable  texts,  and  help  me  to  be  more  depen- 
dent on  thee  for  thy  assistance  and  blessing. 

"  Sabbath-day,  October  23. — Preached  this 
morning,  with  liberty,  from  Jer.  ii.  13.  The  word, 
I  trust,  was  profitable  to  others.  Preached  in  the 
afternoon,  from  John  viii.  11.  And  in  the  evening 
preached  at  Queenborough,  from  Rom.  ii.  9,  10. 
Thank  God  for  this  day,  and  for  the  support  I  have 
had  in  the  Work.  O  let  the  word  take  deep  root  in 
every  heart.   O  my  God,  make  me  useful. 

"  Wednesday,  October  26. — Finished  reading 
Kearsley's  Abridgment  of  Cooke's  Voyages  round 
the  World.  They  are  entertaining,  but,  alas!  how 
little  of  God,  of  Providence  in  them.  No  putting 
themselves  under  his  protection;  no  real  gratitude 
discovered  for  deliverances;  no  spiritual  observa- 
tions on  the  wonders  of  the  great  deep;  no  profit- 


. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  259 


able  descant  on  the  various  works  of  the  Almighty 
Creator,  as  they  appear  in  different  parts  of  the 
world.  What  an  amazing  field  would  have  opened 
to  a  serious  mind,  and  how  would  the  praises  and 
wisdom  of  God  be  advanced  by  spiritual  observa- 
tions made  on  his  astonishing  works.  O  Lord,  give 
me  a  mind  that  shall  see  and  enjoy  thee  in  all  things, 
that  I  may  be  led  with  the  Psalmist  to  say,  "  O 
Lord,  how  manifold  are  thy  works,  in  wisdom  hast 
thou  made  them  all." 

"  Saturday,  October  29. — Cannot  help  thinking 
how  little  I  improve  my  time.  I  am  fond  of  read- 
ing and  being  in  my  study,  and  yet  seem  to  do  but 
little  to  any  good  purpose.  How  many  profitable 
things  have  £  forgotten.  How  many  things  that 
ought  to  have  made  an  impression  on  my  mind, 
scarcely  hath  left  a  trace  behind.  How  many  re- 
marks which  afforded  pleasure  in  the  reading  of 
them,  now  cannot  be  recollected!  Lord,  strengthen 
my  memory,  ripen  my  judgment,  enlarge  my  un- 
derstanding, and  above  all  bless  me  with  a  gracious 
heart,  and  such  impressions  of  thy  love  which  shall 
never  wear  off.  Indeed  this  is  of  the  greatest  con- 
sequence, for  the  time  will  come  when  the  brightest 
intellectual  powers  must  fail;  but  if  thy  grace  be 
shed  abroad  in  the  heart,  this  shall  live,  and  rise 
superior  to  all;  yea,  when  every  thing  decays,  this 
shall  increase  and  shine.  Lord,  give  me  therefore 
thyself,  may  I  study  to  know  and  please  thee  here, 
and  at  last  be  received  into  the  enjoyment  of  that 
rest  which  thou  hast  prepared  for  all  them  that  love 
thee. 


260  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

"Sabbath,  January  1,  1797. — Being  New-year's 
day,  I  preached  in  the  morning,  from  1  Sam.  vii.  12. 
and  in  the  evening  to  young  people,  from  2  Chron. 
xxxiv.  3.  A  great  many  attended  and  appeared  at- 
tentive. 

"  Tuesday,  January  3. — Attended  Mr.  Bishop's 
funeral  to  Minster,  and  preached  in  the  evening, 
from  Psalm  xc.  12.  Lord,  teach  me  to  number  my 
days,  make  me  a  proficient  in  this  profitable  arith- 
metic, and  may  I  apply  my  heart  unto  wisdom,  even 
heavenly  wisdom,  which  is  the  principal  thing,  and 
every  way  profitable  to  direct,  that  I  may  say  with 
•me, 

"  My  soul  would  learn  the  heavenly  art 
To  improve  the  hours  I  have, 
That.  I  may  act  the  wiser  part, 
And  live  beyond  the  grave."  Watt*. 

"  Miserable  place  as  this  world  is,  and  sometimes 
appears  to  me,  yet,  through  mercy  I  find  some  com- 
forts in  it,  though  not  from  it.  I  find  great  pleasure 
at  times  in  reading,  in  studying,  in  friendship,  in 
my  dear  children,  in  conversation,  in  preaching,  in 
contemplation,  in  hearing,  in  reflecting  on  past  sea- 
sons, &c.  in  praying.  So  that  were  I  to  complain,  I 
should  be  guilty  of  irrationality,  or  were  I  unmind- 
ful of  such  favours,  I  should  justly  criminate  my- 
self of  ingratitude.  This  I  write  September  26r 
1797. 

"  Sabbath-day,  November  5. — Heard  this  day  of 
one,  who,  I  trust,  received  his  first  and  saving  im- 
pressions under  my  ministry  at  Silver  Street  Cha- 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  261 


pel  some  time  since.  He  had  since  gone  to  sea,  and 
thought  but  little  of  it.  He  inquired  for  my  name 
at  the  time,  and  never  forgot  it,  and  said  Mr. 
Buck's  religion,  or  what  he  preached,  was  what  he 
liked.  Died  very  happy,  and  gave  evident  testimo- 
ny that  the  Lord  was  with  him.  One  of  his  last  ex- 
pressions was,  "  I  take  my  cable,  and  fix  it  on  my 
anchor,  Jesus,  and  go  through  the  storm,"  or  words 
to  that  effect.  The  landlord  of  the  house,  I  under- 
stand, was  also  converted  by  listening  (at  the  door) 
to  what  was  said  by  the  attendants  of  this  man  in 
his  illness.  Here  is  matter  of  great  praise  and  joy, 
and  peculiar  encouragement  to  myself  as  a  minister 
of  the  gospel,  to  go  on  in  the  work.  How  long  is  it 
sometimes  before  ministers  hear  of  their  word  be- 
ing blessed,  and  some  never  hear  until  they  get  to 
heaven.  However  let  me  consider  what  an  honour 
it  is  to  be  employed  for  God,  and  to  be  made  use- 
ful by  him.  Methinks  I  had  rather  be  a  minister  of 
the  gospel,  to  bring  souls  to  Christ,  than  the  great- 
est monarch  in  the  world.  O  Lord,  bless  me  in  the 
delightful  work,  and  whether  I  know  my  usefulness 
or  not,  may  I  go  on  sowing  the  seed. 

"  Saturday  evening,  December  30.— God  has 
been  very  gracious  unto  me  this  year,  both  in  tem- 
porals and  spirituals,  for  which  I  desire  to  be  thank- 
ful. He  has  heard  and  answered  my  prayers  won- 
derfully, and  I  would  here  mark  it  down  as  a  me- 
morandum, that  I  have  hardly  ever  prayed  for  any 
thing,  but  what  God  has  given  it  to  me.  O  that  this 
may  encourage  me  to  go  on  praying.  Lord  Jesus 
bind  my  heart  to  thee.  Let  mv  soul,  my  body,pow- 


262  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

ers,  circumstances,  family,  yea,  all  be  under  thy  di- 
rection and  guidance,   Amen. 


No.  XLI. 
To  Mrs.  B.  Banbury,  Oxfordshire. 

"Sheerness,  Nov.  22,  1"94. 
"  Dear  Friend — I  was  sorry  I  was  not  in  the  way 
to  see  Mr.  Barnes  when  he  was  in  town,  as  I  should 
have  deemed  myself  happy  to  have  had  an  inter- 
view with  him.  Your  kindness  to  me  when  at  Ban- 
bury demands  my  grateful  acknowledgments  and 
sincere  regard;  and  I  assure  you,  distance  of  place 
doth  not  erase  you  from  my  memory.  Could  I  have 
staid  there  consistent  with  my  own  comfort,  I  be- 
lieve I  should  not  have  left  you,  but  I  saw  no  pro- 
bability of  it,  though  there  were  many  whose  attach- 
ment and  kindness  I  shall  not  easily  forget.  How 
you  have  gone  on  since,  I  have  not  heard,  but  hope 
that  peace  and  unanimity  have  universally  prevail- 
ed, and  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  hath  run  and  been 
glorified.  You,  I  trust,  have  found  the  pearl  of  great 
price,  and  now  experience  the  efficacy  of  that  reli- 
gion you  profess  in  your  own  heart.  To  be  a  pro- 
fessor is  a  very  easy  thing;  but  to  be  a  real  Chris- 
tian is  no  small  matter.  To  stand  against  all  the  al- 
lurements and  temptations  of  sin,  and  all  the  entice- 
ments and  oppositions  of  the  world,  is  what  no  one 
can  do  but  those  who  are  enabled  by  a  divine  pow- 
er. We  see  how  many  there  are  who  can  talk  about 


. 


REV.    CHARLES  BUCK.  263 


iigion;  but  it  is  only  the  true  believer  that  can  walk 
according  to  it.  It  is  only  he  that  can  adorn  the  doc- 
trine of  God  his  Saviour  in  all  things.  Happy  then 
is  such  a  character  who  loves  his  God  above  all 
earthly  things,  and  who  can  say  in  the  sincerity  of 
his  soul,  "  whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee,  and 
there  is  none  on  earth  I  desire  beside  thee.  Thou 
art  the  strength  of  my  heart  and  my  portion  for 
ever."  O  that  you  and  I  may  ever  consider  it  as 
our  privilege,  our  duty,  and  happiness  to  devote 
ourselves  to  his  glory,  and  give  ourselves  up  to  his 
service.  And  now  let  me  give  my  friends  a  word  of 
advice,  for  indeed  I  wish  well  to  your  immortal 
souls.  Let  me  exhort  you  to  be  determined  in  the 
strength  of  the  Lord,  to  know  nothing  else  but  Je- 
sus Christ  and  him  crucified.  Keep  a  watchful  eye 
against  the  many  snares,  that  the  world  and  Satan 
lay  for  you,  and  earnestly  pray  to  the  Lord  that  he 
may  guide  you  into  all  truth,  keep  you  from  sin, 
and  give  you  grace  to  hold  out  to  the  end.  You  are 
sensible  that  nothing  but  his  blood  can  atone  for  sin, 
that  nothing  but  his  grace  can  justify  the  soul,  and 
his  spirit  warm  and  animate  the  heart.  Depend 
upon  him  then,  read  his  sacred  word,  attend  his  or- 
dinances, and  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set 
before  you,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  fi- 
nisher of  your  faith.  That  this  may  be  your  happy 
case  is  the  sincere  prayer  of, 

"  Your  unworthv,  but  willing  servant, 

"  C.  B." 


2G4  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 


No.  XLII. 

"  Sheerness,  Dec.  3,  1794. 
"  Dear  Friend — The  recent  dispensation  of  Pro- 
vidence with  which  you  have  been  exercised,  ex- 
cites me  to  send  you  a  few  lines,  for  though  distant 
from  you,  I  cannot  help  thinking  of  the  distressing 
situation  and  heavy  trial  which  the  Lord  hath  been 
pleased  you  should  meet  with,  yet  I  hope  not  so 
heavy  but  what  he  hath  supported  you  under  it,  not 
so  distressing,  but  what  he  hath  administered  some 
consolation  in  it!  For  you  to  feel,  and  that  very 
considerably,  on  such  an  occasion,  is  the  peculiar 
mark  of  tender  parents.  Indeed  the  trial  is  great; 
the  flower  of  youth  was  just  beginning  to  unfold  it- 
self, and  the  blossom  began  to  shed  a  sweet  fra- 
grance. Amiable,  pleasant,  and  delightful  to  all 
around;  there  your  affections  centred;  there  your 
hopes  were  fixed;  and  often  with  fond  pleasure  did 
you  look  upon  the  rising  youth,  and  thought  again 
and  again  what  comfort  he  would  be  to  you  in  suc- 
ceeding years.  But  lo!  a  worm  at  the  root.  The 
tender  bud  nipped,  and  at  once  brought  to  the  house 
appointed  for  all  living.  Thus  we  see  all  flesh  is 
grass,  and  all  the  glory  of  man  as  the  flower  of  grass. 
The  grass  withereth,  and  the  flower  thereof  falleth 
away.  But  I  am  almost  ready  to  accuse  myself  of 
cruelty,  for  opening  the  wounds  afresh,  and  bring- 
ing before  you  the  object  which  you  have  deposited 
in  the  silent  grave.  But,  however,  I  cannot  help  ob- 
serving, that  as  you  had  every  reason  to  believe  he 
was  one  whom  the  Lord  loved,  that  this  should  be 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  265" 

irce  of  consolation  in  the  midst  of  all.  Taken 
from  the  allurements  of  the  world  and  the  entice- 
ments of  sin,  he  is  no  more  exposed  to  danger.  You 
will  now  have  no  anxious  fears  about  his  prosperity 
in  this  world,  no  distressing  thoughts  about  the  diffi- 
culties he  might  meet  with  here.  Is  it  not  an  un- 
speakable blessing  to  him,  though  a  sore  affliction 
to  you,  that  he  is  so  soon  taken  away  from  the  evil 
to  come.  Nature,  I  know,  must  feel,  and  that  very 
sensibly  too;  however,  let  grace  reign.  Sorrow  not 
as  those  without  hope;  but  look  forward  to  that 
blissful  period,  when  you  shall  meet  again.  O  what 
pleasure  will  it  be  to  meet  those  whom  we  loved 
here  on  eardi,  and  never,  no  never  to  be  separated 
from  them.  Happy  hour,  when  xve  shall  be  called 
away  from  all  terrestrial  things,  to  the  enjoyment 
not  only  of  our  dear  friends  gone  before,  but  our 
best  and  dearest  friend,  Jesus  Christ.  There  we 
shall  see  his  face,  celebrate  his  praises,  admire  his 
wisdom,  adore  his  goodness,  and  be  transported 
with  his  love  for  ever  and  ever.  O,  may  we  be 
there,  is  my  earnest  prayer.  I  now  remain,  my  dear 
friends, 

"  Your  unworthy  servant, 

"C.  B." 


No.  XLIII. 

"  Sheerness,  Dec.  6,  1794. 
"  I  am  happy  that  you  have  complied  with  my 
-equest  as  to  the  time  of  writing  to  each  other.  I 
pe  the  time  will  not  be  lost,  and  I  am  sure  it  will 
Z 


r 


266  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

not  if  religion  be  our  main  theme.  What  subject  so 
noble,  so  sublime,  so  useful,  either  to  write  or  con- 
verse about.  Other  subjects  may  have  something 
pleasing;  but  this  affords  entertainment  and  profit 
connected,  because  it  is  that  which  hath  relation  to 
the  grand  and  immortal  part,  the  soul.  However  in- 
fidels may  reject  it  on  the  one  hand,  and  sceptics 
doubt  of  its  truth  on  the  other,  yet  happy  are  we  in 
experiencing  its  power  and  tasting  its  sweetness. 
Surely  it  is  not  a  mere  chimera,  a  delusory  charm, 
or  false  impression;  but  a  solid,  permanent,  influen- 
tial principle.  It  brings  its  own  internal  witness  with 
it,  which,  though  it  be  denied  by  the  voice,  cannot 
be  destroyed  by  the  power  of  the  ignorant  and  wick- 
ed man.  I  grant  that  what  you  and  I  may  feel,  will 
not  do  to  convince  others  without  external  evidence, 
but  it  will  do  to  support  and  animate  our  own  souls. 
And  thousands,  whose  intellectual  powers  were  ne- 
ver very  strong  to  reason  upon  the  subject,  have  sub- 
mitted to  racks,  tortures,  pains,  flames,  and  death, 
merely  from  what  they  have  felt.  Religion  then  is 
an  inward,  potent  principle,  or  it  is  that  which  hath 
its  seat  in  the  heart,  and  is  attended  with  lively  af- 
fection after  God,  enjoyment  of  him,  and  impartial 
obedience  to  him.  And  herein  we  may  distinguish 
it  from  the  religion  of  the  fancy,  if  I  may  so 
speak,or  that  which  is  merely  mechanical.  Some, 
when  they  hear  a  lively  minister  upon  any  pathetic 
subject,  are  greatly  moved  for  a  while;  perhaps  it 
may  be  the  suffering  of  Christ.  The  minister  de- 
scribes it  with  all  the  powers  of  oratory,  and  sets  it 
forth  with  the  most  affecting  language,  the  fancy 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  267 


begins  to  paint  out  every  scene,  the  passions  are 
agitated,  and  the  person  goes  away  exclaiming, 
What  an  excellent  minister,  and  what  benefit  he 
has  received;  while,  alas!  his  judgment  is  not  at  all 
informed,  nor  his  life  at  all  amended.  Thus  many 
deceive  themselves,  and  think  they  are  something 
when  they  are  nothing.  But  how  different  it  is  with 
the  real  Christian.  We  do  not  say  but  what  his  af- 
fections are  often  moved;  but  then  his  religion  is  not 
built  upon  the  fluctuating  basis  of  his  passions.  No; 
it  hath  its  place  in  the  heart,  and  its  effect  is  evident 
on  the  life.  And  this  exactly  corresponds  with  the 
declarations  of  Jehovah,  in  respect  to  his  people. 
He  does  not  barely  say  he  will  communicate  know- 
ledge to  the  mind,  or  make  impressions  upon  the 
understanding,  that  he  will  place  before  them  the 
beauties  of  creation,  the  wonders  of  providence  and 
redeeming  grace,  in  order  that  these  may  affect  the 
mind.  He  goes  farther,  and  is  determinate,  for  he 
says,  "  I  will  give  them  an  heart  to  know  me." 
Jer.  xxiv.  7.  And,  indeed,  without  this,  every  thing 
beside  would  be  abortive.  But  here  it  rests,  "  My 
people  shall  be  made  willing  in  the  day  of  my  pow- 
er." May  this  word  have  its  accomplishment  on 
us,  is  my  earnest  prayer.  My  paper  forbids  my  en- 
larging, must  therefore  conclude, 
tc  And  remain,  &c. 

«  C.  B." 


2S8  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

No.  XL1V. 

Mrs,  Keigxvin. 

"  Sheerness,  December  11,  1794, 

"  Dear  Sister, — In  your  last  letter  you  gave  me 
some  little  account  of  the  exercises  of  your  mind. 
You  say,  that  of  all  your  foes,  there  is  none  so  for- 
midable as  unbelief.  Indeed  nothing  is  so  injurious 
to  the  mind,  so  derogatory  to  the  glory  of  God,  and 
so  destructive  to  our  comfort,  as  this:  it  is  a  corrupt 
weed,  hath  its  growth  in  a  bad  soil,  and  is  congenial 
to  human  depravity.  I  grant  that  there  may  be  no 
impropriety  in  disbelieving,  when  there  is  not  proper 
evidence,  yea,  we  are  not  obliged  to  believe  in  any- 
one, or  any  thing  without  it.  The  criminality  of 
unbelief,  therefore,  arises  in  proportion  to  the  ful- 
ness of  the  evidence  of  the  truth  we  profess  to  be- 
lieve in.  Now,  I  suppose,  the  unbelief  with  which 
vou  are  attacked  is  of  this  nature.  You  do  not  disbe- 
lieve the  existence  of  Deity,  the  harmony  of  his  per- 
fections, and  the  revelation  of  his  will,  which  he  hath 
given  to  mankind  in  his  word.  No,  the  case  is  this; 
you  are  convinced  of  the  great  depravity  of  your 
heart,  you  are  led  to  see  what  a  sinner,  what  a  back- 
slider you  have  been,  you  view  sin  as  an  enormous 
evil,  and  you  feel  it  as  an  intolerable  burden.  In  this 
situation  you  are  almost  ready  to  conclude,  that  be- 
cause God  is  infinitely  glorious  and  holy,  and  you 
such  a  depraved  unworthv  creature,  that,  therefore, 
you  are  not,  and  never  will  be,  the  object  of  his  love, 
and  the  subject  of  his  grace.  Thus  unbelief  influ- 


REV.' CHARLES  BUCK.  269 

ences  and  distressed,  while  it    dictates  the  painful 
language,  "  The  mercy  of  the  Lord  is  clean  gone 
for  ever."  This  is,  I  suppose,  in  a  great   measure 
your  case.   Is  it  not?   If  it  be  net,  I  will  not  deceive 
you.   But  if  it  be,  then  I  would  endeavour  to  say  a 
word  by  way  of  strengthening  your    weak    hands, 
and  encouraging  you  against  this  potent  enemy  with 
which  you  have  to  grapple.  And,  first,  then  remem- 
ber that  you  are  not  alone  in  this  conflict.   Many  who 
have  not  the  opportunity  of  conversing  with  others, 
are  ready  to  think  that  no  one   is   subject   to  the 
temptations   and  trials  they  are,*  but  if  you  were  to 
know  what  passes  in  my  mind,  and  the  dreadful  fits 
of  unbelief  I  am  sometimes  in,  you  would  no  longer 
wonder  at  yourself;  and,  indeed,  many  with  whom  I 
have  had  the  opportunity  to  converse,  confess  that 
they  have  been  exposed  to  the  most  powerful  attacks 
of  unbelief,  which  have  been  cause  of  great  grief  to 
them:  but,  as  the  bare  recollection  that  others  have 
been   in  the  same  situation  with  yourself,  will  not 
deliver  you  from  it,  I  would  proceed  further  to  ad- 
vise you,  to  search  for  the  evidences  of  God's  regard 
to  those  who  are  made  sensible  of  their  sin,  and  de- 
sire to  cleave  to  Him  only;  and  here  we  will  produce 
only  one,  "  Unto  this  man  wall  I  look,  even  unto 
him  that  is   of  a  poor  and  contrite  spirit,  and  that 
trembleth  at  my  word."  Isaiah  lxvi.  2.   Here  then, 
if  you  answer  this  description,  you  may  rest.   Here 
is  solid  basis.  Here  is  firm  footing.   Here  is  a  de- 
claration from  the  very  God  against  whom  you  have 
sinned.   Here  is  sufficient  evidence  to  convince  you 
(if  applied  by  the  Spirit)  that  however  vile  you  have 
Z  2 


-TO  MEMOIRS   Or   THE 

been,  the  Lord  is  willing  to  receive  you.  Is  it 
lawful  then  to  doubt  Him  who  is  ever  true;  is  it 
right,  after  viewing  such  a  declaration  of  his  will, 
to  keep  back  and  exclude  ourselves  from  his  mercy, 
when  he  hath  not  done  it.  Certainly  not.  Goto  him 
then  just  as  you  are,  and  say,  "  Lord,  I  believe,  help 
ihou  mine  unbelief."  Here  stand  fast,  and  never 
give  up  till  he  shall  be  pleased  to  give  you  that  faith 
which  shall  bring  glory  to  God,  and  comfort  to  your- 
self. Wishing  you  much  of  his  presence,  I  conclude, 
and  remain, 

"Your  affectionate  brother  and  servant, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XLV. 

Rev.  T.  Wills. 

**  Sheerness,  Kent,  December  23,  1794- 
"  My  Dear  Sir, — Some  time  ago  I  received  your 
letter,  and  thank  you  for  the  hint  you  dropped,  lest 
any  thing  should  happen  of  that  nature  you  mention. 
I  am  glad  you  are  able  to  go  through  your  stated 
work  again  with  any  degree  of  facility.  I  hope  the 
Lord  will  go  on  to  restore  your  wonted  health,  that 
vour  animal  frame  may  be  strengthened,  and  above 
all  that  you  may  enjoy  the  blessing  of  Him,  in  the 
light  of  whose  countenance  is  life,  and  whose  favour 
is  as  the  cloud  of  the  latter  rain.  If  he  be  with  us, 
all  will  be  well,  whether  we  are  in  health  or  sickness, 
prosperity  or  adversity,  life  or  death;  but  without 
him  we  can  do  nothing,  enjoy  nothing,  or  say  no- 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  271 

thing  to  any  good  purpose.  The  most  abject  situa- 
tion is  pleasant  when  he  smiles,  the  most  elevated, 
miserable  when  he  frowns.  We  are  ready  to  sink 
under  the  smallest  trial,  destitute  of  his  presence; 
but  we  can  rejoice  in  the  greatest,  when  he  commu- 
nicates to  us  his  grace.  Happy  are  those  who  see 
themselves  weak,  that  Christ  may  strengthen  them, 
that  feel  themselves  as  nothing,  that  Christ  may  be 
all  and  in  all  unto  them.  Such  will  be  able  to  dis- 
cern his  wisdom  in  all  the  dispensations  of  his  pro- 
vidence, and  admire  his  wonderful  love  and  unme- 
rited kindness  in  the  work  of  redemption,  while  they 
are  enabled  to  be  submissive  and  patient  in  every 
trial,  happy  and  composed  in  every  difficulty,  thank- 
ful for  every  cross  as  well  as  for  every  comfort,  and 
at  list  go  off  triumphantly  to  the  world  of  glory 
above. 

"  My  kind  respects,  if  you  please,  to  Mrs.  Wills 
and  MissThornhill,  hope  they  are  well. 
"  I  remain,  dear  Sir, 
"  Your  willing  and  humble  servant, 

"C.B." 


No.  XL VI. 

Mr.  Atkins, 

"  Sheerness,  Kent,  Ap.  .1  25,  1795. 

"I  was  much  disappointed  in  not   seeing  you  at 

our  friend's,   Mr.  Mayhew,  the  Thursday  before  I 

left  town  I  was  so  much  hurried  that  I  had  not  time 

to  call  upon  you.  Mrs.   Mayhew  informed  me  you 


MEMOIRS   OF   THE 


were  much  indisposed  in  body,  I  hope  this  will  ilnc 
you  perfectly  recovered,  and  likewise  happy  in  the 
enjoyment  of  that  prosperity  of  soul  which  is  infi- 
nitely preferable  to  health  of  body.  We  ought  to  be 
thankful  for  either,  but  if  we  enjoy  both  together, 
we  ought  to  be  peculiarly  grateful,  as  these  afford 
the  most  solid  and  refined  satisfaction  mortal  crea- 
tures can  experience  while  in  this  vale  of  tears.  But, 
however,  these  do  not  always  attend  each  other. 
Many  have  strong  and  healthy  bodies,  while  their 
precious  and  immortal  souls  are  in  the  most  mise- 
rable and  awful  state,  while  on  the  other  hand,  ma- 
ny whose  animal  frames  are  weak  and  tottering 
upon  the  borders  of  the  grave,  have  souls  in  the 
most  prosperous  condition,  all  alive  to  God,  enjoy- 
ing the  delightful  and  benign  presence  of  Him, 
whose  prerogative  alone  it  is  to  make  his  people 
comfortable,  either  in  body  or  soul.  I  hope  my  dear 
friend  knows  what  it  is  to  enjoy  communion  with 
Him.  Many  are  the  years  you  have  sat  under  the 
sound  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  and  many  the  mo- 
ments you  have  experienced  the  love  of  God  sensi- 
bly shed  abroad  in  your  heart.  You  can  bear  a  tes- 
timony no  doubt  to  this  truth,  that  nothing  is  so 
pleasant  as  to  live  a  life  of  dependance  upon  God,  a 
life  of  fellowship  with  him,  and  a  life  of  obedience 
to  him.  This  indeed,  can  only  make  us  happy  in 
life,  and  yield  us  consolation  in  that  hour  when  we 
shall  take  leave  of  all  terrene  objects,  and  resign  our 
earthly  tabernacles  to  the  silent  grave. 

"  Last  Sabbath-day  I  preached  at  a  place  called 
Town  Sutton,  near  where  Mr.  Gambier  preaches. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  273 

h  is  quite  a  new  interest,  and  a  pleasing  prospect  of 
usefulness.  I  believe  much  good  may  be  done  in 
such  country  places,  were  there  but  faithful  labori- 
ous ministers,  who  would  consider  it  as  their  duty 
and  honour  to  go  forth  and  preach  the  glad  tidings 
of  the  gospel  of  peace  to  poor  sinners.  I  am  going 
this  week,  God  willing,  to  preach  at  another  place 
where  there  is  a  desire  to  hear.  Let  me  have  an  in- 
terest in  your  prayers,  that  my  stated  labours  at 
home,  and  occasional  labours  elsewhere,  may  be 
blessed  to  the  good  and  conversion  of  many  souls, 
that  I  may  not  have  reason  to  say,  that  I  have  la- 
boured in  vain,  or  spent  my  strength  for  nought.  I 
assure  you,  you  are  not  forgotten  by  me.  May  the 
blessing  of  the  Lord  be  with  and  upon  you,  is  the 
earnest  prayer  of 

u  Your  affectionate  friend  and  servant, 

«  C.  B." 


No.  XLVII. 

Rev*  M.  Castle  don, 

"  Sheerness,  May  22,  1795. 
"  Dear  Friend — This  week  I  have  been  to  Chat- 
ham, to  the  ordination  of  our  friend  Slatterie.  Mr. 
Leggett,  of  Stroud,  began  the  service  with  reading 
and  prayer;  Mr.  Brooksbank  then  said  a  few  words, 
and  required  the  confession  of  faith,  without  asking 
the  usual  questions;  Mr.  Simpson  prayed  the  ordi- 
nation prayer,  and  gave  the  charge;  Mr.  Shrubsole 
concluded  with  prayer;  and  Mr.   Hill  preached  in 


MI  l      THE 

lnc  evening.     I  pic,  and  I  believe 

II  u;i  I  ,I,lr  opportunity, at  hast  it  was  to  me* 
Sl"1'  IOC,  I  think,  was  not  a  had  one,  as 

1  <li(1  that  he  omitted  any  of  tin-  princi- 

pal articles  that  should  In-  brought  forward  on  such 
ion<   Mi.  Simpson's   ordination  prayer,  I 
think,  ;  i  ever  heard,  Ik  seemed 

much  affected,  and  prayed  with  great   eai 

III  delivered  bohii  good  things  in  his  charge,  which 
1  hope  I  .sIkjII  not  Hm.  iv.  l 

inclusive.   Rfr.  Hill's  sermon  t<>  the  people  in 

one.    It  was  rather  . 
mon  atf  cUrum,  than  a  >ij>nltim.   Hi 

was  2  Cor.  iii.  5,  6.  He-  said  main  excellent  things, 
but  Wl  Ltd  and  so  much  to  the  point  as  he 

should  have  been  or.  such  an  occasion;  hut,  you 
know,  he  can  take  liberties  which  others  must  not. 

"  I  think  ordinations,  when  conducted  with 

,  are  aw  ful,  j  el  profitabl  ns.  Whai 

be  m<  tnn,  than  to  see  a  person  set  apai 

the  arduous  work  of  preaching  the  everlasting 

pel,  in  which,  if  he  he  not  faithful,  circumspect,  and 
tent,  what  dreadful  consequences  will  follow: 
yet,  what  more  delightful,  than  to  sec  a  man  vo 
all  sordid  and  base,  motives  on  the  one  hand,  and 
ill  human  applause  en-  reproach  on  the 
other,  willingly  giving  himself  up  in  the  presence  of 
Cod,  and  men,    to    the  difficult,  yet  honour- 

ahle  sen  ice-  ol"  the  gospel  ministry!  O  that  we  may 
be  so  kept  by  the  power, and  so  directed  by  the  grace 
of  our  God,  as  ever  to  keep  his  glory  in  view,  and 
rejoice  in  the  happy  prospect  of  doing  good  to  im- 


REV.  CHARJ  i  S   BUCK.  '2  7 .» 

mortal  souls.  Whatever  others  do,  let  it  be  oui 
to  study  hard,  pray  hard,  and  labour  hard  For  the 
good  of  our  fellow  creatures.  I   think  we  shall  not 
have  to  complain  on  our  dying  da)   that  we  have 

lone  too  much  for  him  who  hath  done  so  much  for 

us;  but,  in  all  probability,  we  shall  have  to   n 

that  we  have  done  so  little.   Let  us  not  be  discour- 

t   we  meet  with  difficulties  in  the  way.    llu  \ 

will  be  all  needful,  and  will  not  make    us    preach  the 

\  but   the    better.    If  our    hearts   he    but  in  the 

work,  we  may  hope  we  shall  have  comfort  in  it  slab; 
for,  as  Baxter  well  observes,*  4  God  si  Ulom  bl< 

any  man's  Work  SO  much  as  his,  whose  heart 

upon  the  success  of    it.'    .Ma\    we  be    made  faithful, 

laborious,  and  active    ministers    of  the   Nr\\     I 

ment,   and  be  preserved  from  every  snare,  are  m\ 
ere  pra\  i 
u  I  remain  your's  sincerely  in  the  gospel, 

"€.   B." 


No.  XLVIII. 

"  Sheemest,  Juhe 
kw  Dear  Friend — Youi's  of  the  17th  instant  I    re 
ived,  and  thank  you  lor  the  intelligence  you  have 
iven    me   respecting  the  exhibition  of  the    Hoxton 
dents.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  Mr.  Foster  is  in 
such  an  alarming    situation,  and    should    have  been 
more  so,  had  I  lived  ih    town,  as  1  should  have  at 
tended  his  ministry  while  he  lived,   as  I  have  dune 

'  Baxter's  Reformed  Pastor. 


S.U 


276  MEMOIRS  OF  TUB 

in  time  past.  I  know  not  of  any  minister  in  Lon- 
don who  has  been   made   so  useful  to   me  as  he. 
Though  I  never  considered  him  as  one  who  posess- 
ed  any  peculiar  brightness  of  intellect,  or  strength  of 
thought,  yet  the  faithful,  simple,  and  experimental 
manner  of  discussing  his   subject,  always  pleased 
and  profited  me.   Almost  eight  years  ago,   I  heard 
him  preach  at  St.  Antholin's,  on   the  same  text  as 
you  mention,  but  he  treated  it  differently  to  what 
you  heard  him  at  Long  Acre.  Should  he  be  spared 
a  little  longer,  I  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  to  hear 
him  again,  as  I  expect  to   be  in   town   in  August 
next,  God  willing.   You  say  nothing  in  your  last  of 
your  settling  at  Deal,  but  by  your  returning  again  I 
suppose  you  intend  it.   If  so,  I  hope  and  pray  that 
the  Lord  may  make  you  the   honoured  instrument 
of  reviving  the  work   in  that  place,  and  will  give 
you  a  word  of  advice,  if  you  will  take  it  from  a 
younger  brother,   and   that  is,   be   much  in  secret 
prayer  and  habituate  joursrlf  to  study,  reading,  &c. 
I  find  that  these  things  must  be  attended  to,  or  a 
variety  cannot  be  kept   up   with  any  degree  of  life 
and  power.  There  is  a  great  deal  to  do  in  a  stated 
congregation,  and  it  needs    much  communion  with 
God,  and  knowledge  of  divine  things,  in  order  to 
acquit   ourselves   with  propriety.  Study  hard,  and 
pray  often,  therefore,  in  private,  that  you  may  be 
owned  of  God,  and  remarkably  blessed  in  your  la- 
bours in  public.   I  would  also  have  you  pay  some 
attention    to  village   preaching,   if  you  can:   much 
good  is  done  this  way,  both  to  ministers  and  people. 
I  have  two    little    places  here  that  I  occasionally 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  277 

preach  at,  and  sometimes  am  able  to  speak  with  a 
kind  of  liberty  or  freedom  which  I  cannot  always 
do  in  large  places.  The  simplicity  of  the  people  ex- 
cites a  minister  to  speak  plainly  and  simply,  and  by 
this  means  the  Lord  is  often  pleased  to  work  upon 
the  hearts  and  open  the  eyes  of  poor  sinners. 

"  You  heard,  I  suppose,  that    the   Independent 
Ministers  of  the  county  of  Kent  held  their  associa- 
tion at  Strood,  the  tenth  of  this  month.  The  minis- 
ters were,  Mr.  Townsend,  of  Ramsgate;  Mr.  Ralph, 
of    Maidstone;     Mr.     Leggett,    of    Strood;     Mr. 
Cratchrode,  of  Gravesend;   Mr.  Hopkins,  of  Tun- 
bridge;   Mr.   Muston,  of  Aston  Berks;   Mr.  Slat- 
terie,  of  Chatham;   Mr.  Beaufoy,  of  Town  Sutton; 
Mr.  Goodwin,  of  Lenheim;  and  myself.  I  preached 
from  2  Tim.  i.  12.,  on  the  preceding  evening.   Mr. 
Ralph  preached  in  the   morning  on  adoption,  (and 
what  is  singular  to  relate,  he  began  his  sermon,  di- 
vided his  subject,  and    finished  it,   and  absolutely 
forgot  to  give   out  his  text,   which   we  found  was, 
1    John  iii.    1.)    Mr.   Townsend    preached  in   the 
evening  on  justification,  from  Rom.  v.  18.  "  Justi- 
fication of  life."   On  the  whole  it  was  a  comfortable 
day,  and  I  hope  productive  of  good.  It  was  resolv- 
ed, among  other  things,  that  a  letter  should  be  drawn 
up  and  sent  to  the  ministers  and  congregations  in 
Kent,  to  excite  them  to  come  forward  to  cor  *e" 
nance  the  des'ip^  *>£  propagating   the   gospr*  in 
reign  par^f  a  copy  of  which  letter  I   ^PPose  vou 
have  received  by  this  time;   but  I   -  al  not  now  en" 
large  on  this  business,  as,  per^P8?  vou  eitner  nave 
heard,  or  will  hear  mo^   of  it,  most  likelv,  from 
2  A 


278  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

Mr.  Townsend,  when  you  see  him.  Hoping  you 
are  well  in  body,  and  happy  in  mind,  I  now  re- 
main, 

"  Your's,  in  the  best  bonds, 

"  C.  B." 


No.  XLIX. 

Mr,  Boultoiu 

u  Sheerness,  November  19,  1795. 

My  dear  Friend Hope  this  will  find  you  well, 

enjoying  every  blessing  peculiar  to  those   who  be- 
long to  the  family  of  heaven,  and  living  near  to  him 
who  died  for  you.  This  is  the  first  question  I  ask 
concerning  you,  because  I  know  it  is  that  which  not 
only  should,  but  I  believe  is  of  the  greatest  import- 
ance in  your  estimation.   And,  my  dear  friend,  what 
is  so  much  to  be  desired  by  a  child  of  God  as  pros- 
perity of  soul.   Health  of  body,  increase  of  know- 
ledge, success   in  business,  advancement  in  reputa- 
tion in  the  world  are   comparatively  nothing  to  the 
welfare  of  the  immortal  part.  To  be  increasing  in 
health  of  mind,  gaining  spiritual  knowledge,  suc- 
ceeding in  heavenly  business,  and  rising  in  reputa- 
*->n  in  the  eyes  of  angels  and  saints;  these  acquire- 
lneriv  to  the  true  Christian  &*«  of  the  greatest  mo- 
ment, Wiqe  ^e  anxiously  desires  tti**  he   may  not 
fall  short  ot  ^em;  and  happy,  truly  hapPy  is    he 
who  is  so  insens'i^  to  au  terrestrial  things  as  to 
make    these    the   con^nt  objects  of  hia    pursuit. 
Such  experience  that  peace  *n  their  consciences,  that 


. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  279 


happiness  in  their  minds,  which  the  attainment  of 
all  other  things  could  not  produce.  What  a  privi- 
lege then  if  we  have  any  disposition  to  seek  after 
these  nobler  objects.  What  a  mercy  that  our  foot- 
steps are  directed  into  this  delightful  path.  O  let 
us  be  thankful  to  Him  who  is  the  author  of  all  our 
blessings,  while  we  constantly  look  to  and  depend 
upon  him  that  he  may  grant  us  the  continuance  of 
these  favours,  that  our  hearts  may  burn  with  great- 
er zeal,  be  fired  with  more  ardent  love,  and  our 
affections  be  taken  from  all  worldly  things  and 
placed  above,  even  on  Him  who  hath  made  us  so 
deeply  indebted  to  Him. 

"  I  knowiJpnot  how  it  has  been  in  your  part,  but 
here  we  have  had  very  high  winds  lately.  We  have 
reason  to  be  thankful  however  for  preservation. 
How  easily  can  the  Almighty  dash  every  thing  to 
pieces!  All  the  world  to  him  is  no  more  than  an 
atom  to  us!  But  happy  for  us  in  all  the  awful  dis- 
plays of  his  power,  if  we  can  put  our  trust  under 
the  shadow  of  his  wings.  May  we  be  his,  and  all 
shall  work  together  for  our  advantage  and  felicity, 
I  must  now  conclude,  wishing  you  the  best  of  bless- 
ings. 

"  I  remain,  dear  friend, 

"  Your's  very  affectionately, 

«  C.  B." 


280  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

No.  L. 

Mr.  Atkins. 

"  Sheerness,  December  1,  1795. 
u  My  dear  Friend — Though  absent  from,  yet  I 
cannot  forget  you;  and  as  a  proof  of  it  I  take  up  my 
pen  to  write  you  a  few  lines,  which  I  hope  will  find 
you  in  the  perfect  enjoyment  of  bodily  and  spiritual 
health.  Through  mercy  we  remain  well,  though 
many  in  this  part  have  been  visited  with  sickness. 
How  were  you  in  the  late  high  winds?  our  house 
was  shaken  much.  Great  damage  was  done  here, 
especially  among  the  shipping.  The  frame  of  our 
little  chapel  at  Queenborough  which  was  not  cover- 
ed in  was  completely  blown  off  the  foundation,  and 
much  injured,  but  however  we  expect  soon  to  get  it 
up  again,  but  cannot  tell  exactly  the  time  when  it 
will  be  ready  for  opening.  I  anticipate  much  in  re- 
gard to  the  work  of  the  Lord  there.  Great  things 
have  been  done  already,  and  what  may  we  not  ex- 
pect when  we  have  a  proper  place  fitted  up,  when 
many  we  hope  w  ill  go,  who  will  not  be  seen  at  our 
preseut  place.  O  that  the  Lord  may  make  bare  his 
arm,  and  cause  his  report  to  be  believed,  that  his 
word  may  have  free  course,  run  and  be  glorified. 
When  I  consider  the  usefulness  of  a  Romaine,  a 
Berridge,  and  many  other  illustrious  characters,  it 
excites  in  me  a  strong  desire  to  go  and  do  likewise; 
and  though  I  ever  expect  to  be  totally  insignificant 
when  compared  to  them,  yet  would  I  consider  it  as 
an  honour,  as  one  says,  '  even  to  be  an  errand  boy 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  281 

for  Christ.'  To  be  useful  to  the  souls  of  our  fellow 
creatures  in   any  way,  is   doing  them  the  greatest 
service.  To  heal  the  disorders  of  the  body,  to  re- 
lieve the  distresses  of  the  indigent,  to  compassion- 
ate  the    feelings   of  the  miserable,  to  console   the 
minds  of  the  afflicted,  are  indeed  praiseworthy  ac- 
tions; but  to  be  made  an  instrument  of  good  to  the 
immortal  soul  is  far  more  so:  "  as  we  have  there- 
fore opportunity  let  us  do  good  unto  all  men,  espe- 
cially unto  them  who  are  of  the  household  of  faith, 
ever  remembering  this  truth  that  it  is  more  honour- 
able to  be  a  converter  of  the  soul,  than  a  supporter 
of  the  body."  This   is  a  truth  which  I  believe  my 
good  friend  acquiesces  in,  and  though  not  a  public 
speaker,  yet  I  believe  he  is  a  private  minister  of  the 
gospel,  and   if   compliments    were   not    fulsome   I 
would  say  that  he  could  point  to  many,  who,  having 
been  under   his  care,   have  profited   much   by  the 
efforts  he  hath  made  for  their  good.  But  I  will  dis- 
miss this,  to  ask  my  friend  how  it  is  with  himself 
and  the  work  of  grace  in  his  own  soul?   I  will,  in 
imagination,  place    myself  at  his  elbow  to  hear  his 
answer,  and  methinks  it  is  this:  That  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  difficulties  in  the  way,  all  the  changes  he 
has  felt,  and  all  the   chastisements   of  his   Father's 
hand,  yet  he  can   say,  "  Lord,    thou   knowest  all 
things,  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee."  Happy  the 
man  who  can  thus  make  his  appeal  to  the  Searcher 
of  Hearts,  who  can  with  a  holy  confidence  say,  that 
of  all  objects,  none  are  so  delightful  to  him  as  Je- 
sus; of  all  subjects,  none  so  profitable  to  him  as  his 
grace;  of  all  people,  none  so  near  to  him  as  his 
2  A  2 


282  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

children,  and  of  all  privileges,  none  so  great  to  him 
as  to  be  permitted  to  come  into  his  presence. 
This  is  a  proof  indeed,  that  such  have  their  conver- 
sation in  heaven,  and  their  affections  fixed  upon  the 
best  things.  If  this  be  our  case,  what  reason  have 
we  to  be  thankful,  that  while  so  many  thousands  are 
left  to  go  on  in  the  dangerous  road  of  error  and  va- 
nity, that  we  should  have  a  disposition  for  better 
things,  that  our  feet  should  be  directed  into  the  way 
of  peace.  Surely  we  may  abundantly  utter  the  me- 
mory of  his  great  goodness,  and  sing  of  his  righte- 
ousness. Let  us  then  celebrate  his  marvellous  kind- 
ness, with  hearts  of  gladness,  lips  of  praise,  and 
lives  of  holiness,  until  we  come  to  the  full  enjoy- 
ment of  it  in  glory.  There  we  shall  take  up  the 
same  subject,  pursue  it  with  renewed  vigour,  and 
never  be  wearied  in  repeating  the  praises  and  ad- 
miring the  glories  of  Him  who  is  the  first  and  the 
last,  the  fountain  of  all  happiness,  the  author  of  all 
grace,  and  the  object  of  everlasting  adoration.  O 
may  we  be  there,  is  my  earnest  prayer.  But  I  must 
now  conclude,  wishing  you  the  very  best  of  bless- 
ings for  ever;   I  remain 

"  Your  very  sincere  and  willing  servant, 

"  C.  B." 


Not  LI. 

"  Sheerness,  March  19,  1796. 
"  My  dear  Friend — Your  sister's   letter  in  an- 
swer to  my  last  I  received,  and  thank  her  for  the 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  283 

relation  of  Christian  experience  therein  given. 
Surely  it  is  an  unspeakable  mercy  when  we  have 
anv  reason  whatever  to  conclude  that  the  Lord  hath 
called  us  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light. 
Whatever  blessings  and  favours  we  are  made  the 
participants  of,  to  support  us  in  time;  this  is  one 
which  will  extend  throughout  the  countless  ages  of 
eternity.  It  is  therefore  the  mercy  of  mercies,  under 
the  sense  of  which  we  ought  always  to  live,  and  for 
which  we  should  be  eternally  grateful.  But,  alas! 
how  often  do  we  lose  sight  of  it,  and  how  much  do 
the  little  insignificant  things  of  time  occupy  our  at- 
tention, and  rest  upon  our  minds  as  if  of  vast  im- 
portance, while  the  more  solemn  and  weighty  con- 
cerns of  our  immortal  souls  are  too  much  neglected. 
However,  while  we  deplore  our  little  spiritual  mind- 
dedness,  and  indisposition  to  attend  constantly  to 
the  things  of  God,  yet,  let  us  be  thankful  that  c  the 
desire  of  our  soul  is  to  Him,  and  to  the  remembrance 
of  his  name.'  Even  this  is  an  evidence  of  life,  and 
where  this  once  exists,  not  all  the  opposition  of  men, 
or  the  corruption  congenial  to  our  own  nature,  shall 
extinguish  it.  It  is  true  we  cannot  expect  absolute 
holiness  while  in  such  an  unholy  world;  but  we 
may  expect  divine  grace  to  conquer  our  corruptions 
and  make  our  path  shine  brighter  and  brighter  unto 
the  perfect  day.  Let  us  then,  my  friend,  be  sincere 
in  our  dependance  on,  and  earnest  in  our  supplica- 
tion to  that  God  who  will  not  break  the  bruised 
reed  or  quench  the  smoking  flax.  Whatever  we 
neglect,  let  us  not  neglect  to  look  to  Him  who  is 
the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.  Let  us  cry  to 


284  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

him,  that  our  hopes  may  be  brightened,  our  love 
inflamed,  our  hearts  enlarged,  and  our  souls  all  on 
fire  to  go  forward  in  the  divine  life. 

"  I  have  lately  been  called  aside  from  my  public 
work,  by  sickness  of  body,  so  that  I  have  not 
preached  for  near  three  weeks,  but  I  have  found  it 
good  to  be  afflicted.  Even  in  my  pain  God  support- 
ed me  and  let  a  drop  of  heaven  into  my  soul.  The 
54th  hymn  in  the  2d  book  of  Dr.  Watts  was  much 
blessed  to  me,  particularly  this  verse: 

*'  In  darkest  shades  if  he  appear, 
My  dawning  is  begun; 
He  is  my  soul,  sweet  morning-  star, 
And  he  my  rising-  sun." 

*'  How  kind  is  our  indulgent  God  to  be  with  his 
people,  while  passing  through  the  fire.  O,  this 
makes  afflictions  sweet  and  profitable.  Indeed,  his 
presence  makes  us  happy  in  any  situation,  and  in 
any  circumstances  however  outwardly  distressing. 
To  have  one  smile  from  him,  is  of  more  value  and 
produces  greater  felicity  than  the  approbation  of  all 
the  monarchs  and  emperors  of  the  earth.  O  may 
we  always  enjoy  it. 

u  I  promised  to  let  you  know  when  our  chapel  at 
Queenborough  would  be  opened.  It  is  fixed  for 
Good  Friday  next.  Mr.  Shrubsole  will  preach  in 
the  morning,  and  I  shall  preach  in  the  evening,  God 
willing.  There  is  a  stir  among  them.  Have  every 
reason  to  believe  the  Lord  is  at  work.  May  he 
speed  the  gospel  plough. 

"  You  no  doubt  heard  some  time  ago,  that  the 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK. 


Lord  has  given,  or  rather  lent  me  a  son.  Pray  for 
me  that  I  may  be  enabled  (should  he  live)  to  make 
a  good  use  of  him;  I  mean  to  devote  him  to  the  Lord. 
Mrs.  Buck  and  he  are  both  well,  through  mercy. 
Mrs.  B.  desires  to  be  kindly  remembered  to  you, 
and  your  sister.  I  must  now  conclude,  wishing  you, 
my  dear  friend,  the  enjoyment  of  his  blessing, 
whose  presence  is  life,  and  whose  favour  is  as  the 
cloud  of  the  latter  rain; 

"  And  remain  your's  very  sincerely, 

"C.  B." 


No.  LII. 

"  Sheerness,  June  14,  1796. 
"  Was  happy  to  hear  that  you  were  received  into 
Mr.  Wall's  church,  and  very  happy  on  this  con- 
sideration, that  one,  however,  of  oar  family  beside 
myself,  was  joined  to  the  people  of  the  Lord,  and 
as  it  were  publicly  devoted  to  him;  the  consideration 
so  affected  me,  that  I  could  scarce  forbear  weeping. 
Othat  it  were  so  with  all  the  rest,  for  whom  I  can- 
not, do  not,  cease  to  pray.  However,  may  you  al- 
ways be  sensible  of  the  honor  and  privilege  you  are 
now  admitted  to,  and  the  obligation  you  are  under, 
to  live  to  the  glory  of  God,  by  adorning  his  doc- 
trine in  all  things.  O,  love  and  adore  Him,  who 
hath  done  such  great  things  for  you!  To  have  a 
portion  with  God's  people,  to  have  a  place  in  his 
church,  is  far  greater  dignity  and  felicity,  than  if 
you  were  advanced  to  the  highest  pitch  of  worldly 
glory.  Let  me  then  exhort  you,  to  live  mindful  of 


286  MEMOIRS  OE  THE 

your  privilege,  constantly  attending  to  his  ordi- 
nances, meditating  on  his  sacred  word  with  a  firm 
dependance  upon  Him  for  all,  and  you  will  find  in- 
deed those  words  to  be  true,  that  the  ways  of  wis- 
dom are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths 
peace.  May  you  find  them  so,  is  the  earnest  praver 
of, 

"  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"  C.  B." 


The  steps  which  led  to  his  removal,  Mr.  Buck 
describes  in  the  following  extracts  from  his  nar- 
rative. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  kindness  of  many  of  the 
people  at  Sheerness,  yet,  being  a  time  of  war,  many 
of  the  hearers  belonging  to  the  dock-yard,  were  em- 
ployed of  a  Sabbath-day  for  months  together.  This 
so  thinned  the  congregation,  morning  and  afternoon, 
thst  I  could  not  help  bearing  my  testimony  against 
what  I  thought  to  be  the  violation  of  the  Sabbath- 
day.  I  found,  however,  there  was  no  remedy.  I 
therefore  made  up  my  mind  to  quit,  and  gave  no- 
tice that  I  should  leave  at  the  end  of  six  months.  I 
had  many  intreaties  to  stay,  but  I  could  not  be 
satisfied,  as  it  regarded  the  constant  working  on  the 
Sabbath-day. 

w  Mr.  Shrubsole  was  taken  suddenly  ill  and  died. 
Of  his  character  I  have  spoken  before.  The  people 
made  great  lamentations  over  him,  considering  him 
as  the  father  of  the  cause  in  that  place,  and  had 
resided  among  them  highly  respected  for  so  many 


REV.   CHARLES   *UCK.  287 

years.  The  streets  were  lined  with  people  to  see  his 
funeral;  it  seenled  as  if  all  had  left  their  habi- 
tations to  behold  a  father  carried  to  the  grave,  who 
had  been  so  useful  among  them.  The  Rev.  Rowland 
Hill  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  to  a  very  large 
auditory  at  the  chapel,  from  Heb.  iv.  6.  I  was  now 
requested  to  take  the  whole  charge,  but  I  felt  the 
same  reason  for  declining  it  as  before. 

"  Determining  to  leave  Sheerness,  my  intention 
was  made  known  to  the  Rev.  John  Eyre,  of  Hack- 
ney, who  was  about  to  retire  from  his  school,  and 
wished  to  find  some  suitable  person  to  succeed  him, 
and  likewise  to  assist  him  occasionally  at  his  chapel. 
We  had  a  meeting,  and  the  business  was  soon  set- 
tled; and  when  my  time  was  up  at  Sheerness,  we 
finally  removed  from  thence,  to  Well  Street,  Hack- 
ney, the  present  residence  of  the  Rev.  George 
Coliison. 

"  Before  I  quite  left  Kent,  I  preached  at  the  As- 
sociation of  Ministers  at  Tunbridgc,  on  the  subject 
of  repentance;  at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Gooding,  at 
Lenham,  I  preadied  to  the  people,  from  1  Thess. 
v.  12,  13;  and,  finally,  at  Sheerness,  took  my  leave, 
from  Heb.  xiii.  22.  The  people  seemed  much  af- 
fected. As  many  important  considerations  enter  the 
mind  in  first  undertaking  a  particular  charge,  so 
there  ought  to  arise  some  reflections  on  leaving  it. 
What  is  the  motive  that  induces  me  to  change?  Is  it 
from  a  restless  disposition;  a  desire  to  get  rid  of 
difficulties;*  a  wandering  spirit;  a  love  of  change; 

*  I  was  once  accosted  by  a  minister  whom  I  did  not  know. 


288  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

or,  from  a  real  desire  to  do  more  good,  and  to  glo- 
rify God  more?  How  have  I  preached  during  my 
stay?  Have  I  been  faithful,  keeping  nothing  back, 
not  shunning  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God, 
or  have  I  given  dissatisfaction,  by  trimming  and 
endeavouring  to  please  men,  aiming  to  exhibit  my- 
self rather  than  the  cross  of  Christ?  Have  I  paid  at- 
tention to  my  studies,  improved  time,  cultivated 
my  talent,  and  made  any  advances  in  spiritual  know- 
ledge; or  have  I  been  chargeable  with  negligence 
and  slothfulness,  spending  the  time  in  useless  visits, 
when  I  should  have  been  in  the  study?  Have  I  been 
willing  to  listen  to  the  tales  of  woe,  to  visit  the 
sick,  to  sympathise  with  the  wretched,  and  to  do 
good  to  all;  or  have  I  been  seeking  my  own  gratifi- 
cation, studying  my  own  ease,  neglecting  oppor- 
tunities of  usefulness,  and  living  only  for  myself? 

t(  Sir,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  never  forget  hearing  you  once  in  Lon- 
don; I  lived  in  the  north  of  England,  and  in  a  situation  where  I 
met  with  a  good  many  trials;  I  thought  London  a  fine  place, 
and  that  if  I  could  settle  there  I  should  be  more  happy:  I  ac- 
cordingly went,  and  thought  first  of  all  I  would  go  and  hear 
different  ministers  with  which  the  metropolis  abounded.  Among 
the  rest  I  found  my  way  to  Wilson  Street  Chapel,  when  you 
were  preaching;  during  your  sermon  yon  made  an  observation 
something  like  this:  '  That  we  often  imagine  by  changing  our 
situation  we  get  rid  of  our  trials;  but  we  forget  that  God  has  a 
furnace  for  his  people  in  every  place,  let  them  go  where  they 
will;  and  that,  if  we  get  out  of  one  we  shall  soon  get  into  ano- 
ther.* Is  this  true,  thought  I  to  myself;  then  there  must  be  a 
furnace  in  London  as  well  as  elsewhere.  I  will  immediately  go 
back  again  and  endeavour  to  be  satisfied."  He  accordingly  went 
back  to  his  former  situation.  A  word  spoken  in  due  season,  how 
good  it  is. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  289 

How  have  I  acted  in  private  company?  Have  I 
sought  their  spiritual  welfare,  dropped  useful  hints, 
shown  attention  to  children,  and  left  a  sweet  savour 
of  seriousness  behind;  or  have  I  manifested  a  levity 
of  spirit,  and  henceforth  to  be  remembered  as  an 
excellent  man  in  the  pulpit,  but  a  buffoon  in  corn- 
pan}7?  In  a  word,  has  my  conduct  been  such,  that 
the  cause  has  not  been  injured  by  it,  have  I  left 
no  stigma,  brought  no  reproach,  entered  into  no 
quarrels,  but  been  of  a  meek  and  lowly  spirit?  Can 
it  be  said  on  parting,  that  the  friends  surround  me 
with  affection,  and  say,  Well,  though  we  cannot 
have  your  ministry,  we  hope  to  have  your  prayers, 
and  in  return  you  shall  ever  have  ours;  or,  on  the 
contrary,  is  it  said  by  the  people,  We  rejoice  that 
he  is  gone;  his  temper  was  so  indifferent,  his  conver- 
sation so  uninteresting,  his  preaching  so  superficial, 
that  no  one  will  lament  his  departure?  Such  ought 
to  be  our  reflections,  and  happy  are  those  ministers 
whose  consciences  have  been  kept  void  of  offence, 
and  through  grace,  have  been  so  enabled  to  act  as 
to  leave  a  good  name  behind  them. 


2  B 


290  MEM0IR3  OF  THE 


CHAP.  IV, 


The  Settlement  of  Mr.  Buck  at  Hackney. — His  Re- 
moval to  London. — His  various  Labours,  Publica- 
tions, and  Death. 

Of  Mr.  Buck  it  may  be  truly  said,  that  "he 
worked  while  it  was  day."  He  merely  exchanged 
one  scene  of  labour  for  another.  To  be  useful,  and 
to  the  full  extent  of  the  talents  committed  to  his 
trust,  was  his  invariable  endeavour.  His  friends, 
however,  cannot  but  regret  the  necessity  which 
compelled  him  to  exhaust  his  strength  and  spirits 
in  .'he  care  of  a  school,  while  he  was  engaged  in  the 
ministry  of  the  gospel.  Until  a  more  liberal  provi- 
sion is  made  for  dissenting  ministers,  many  must 
be  thus  sacrificed,  or  tempted  to  form  unsuitable 
connexions  in  life  for  the  sake  of  independence, 
which  are  most  injurious  to  their  characters  and 
usefulness.  On  this  subject  I  could  various  tales 
unfold,  that  would  chill  the  ardour  of  many  a  youth- 
ful candidate  for  the  sacred  office;  when  a  man  is 
absolutely  in  the  power  of  a  congregation,  a  thou- 
sand circumstances  of  daily  occurrence  will  force 
upon  him  a  painful  sense  of  his  dependance,  and  if 
to  avoid  this  he  undertakes  a  seminary,  he  virtually 
relinquishes  the  ministry:  and  if  he  can  so  far  de- 
grade  himself  as   to  turn    {i  fortune-hunter,"    and 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  291 

Larry  a  wife  for  her  money,  he  may  thus  purchase 
the  smiles  and  congratulations  of  the  worldly  part 
of  his  flock,  who  feel  a  double  satisfaction, — first, 
that  they  need  not  subscribe  so  much,  that  an  in- 
crease of  family  will  not  lay  them  under  an  obliga- 
tion to  increase  the  means  of  his  support;  and,  se- 
condly, that  their  pastor  is  a  man  of  property. — A 
mighty  and  most  imposing  consideration! — while 
he,  poor  man,  has  linked  his  destiny  with  an  ideot, 
or  some  awkward  piece  of  deformity,  or  a  shrew 
who  every  moment  reminds  him,  that  to  obtain 
"  filthy  lucre,"  he  has  planted  "  a  thorn  in  his  flesh," 
which  must  rankle  there  as  long  as  "  they  both  shall 
live." 

Without  further  remark  I  shall  now  introduce 
Mr.  Buck  as  his  own  biographer,  to  the  close  of  his 
narrative;  the  last  pages  of  whieh  are  evidently 
written  with  a  weak  and  trembling  hand.  It  appears 
to  have  been  the  last  effort  of  his  mind,  and  displays 
the  energy  of  his  principles,  and  the  unabated  ardor 
of  his  zeal. 

"  1797. — I  now  succeeded  Mr.  Eyre  in  taking  the 
charge  of  a  large  boarding  school  at  Hackney. 
This  I  found  to  be  a  very  important  undertaking,  as 
all  will  find  who  engage  in  it;  requiring  great  atten- 
tion, much  labour,  good  health  and  spirits,  invinci- 
ble patience,  a  knowledge  of  the  diversified  powers 
and  capacities  of  youth,  a  happy  art  of  adapting 
ideas  to  the  juvenile  mind,  a  fixed  plan  of  govern- 
ment and  discipline,  a  determination  never  to  be 
hurt  by  the  little  tales  sometimes  carried  home  to 
the  parents,  a  real  love  for  children,  as  also  a  plea- 


292  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

sure  in  the  communication  of  knowledge  to  them. 
These  and  many  other  qualifications  are  necessary 
if  we  wish  to  succeed,  indeed  we  should  hardly  have 
any  thing  else  to  do, 

u  I  began  to  think,  however,  that  though  I  had 
now  no  settled  charge  as  a  pastor,  it  would  be 
wrong  for  me  not  to  exercise  my  talents  on  a  Sab- 
bath-day, where  I  might  be  called.  Besides  helping 
Mr.  Eyre  occasionally,  I  soon  had  numerous  ap- 
plications from  various  places  in  and  about  the  me- 
tropolis. In  going  to  preach  at  one  of  these,  I  met 
with  some  degree  of  encouragement  from  a  circum- 
stance related  to  me  by  the  gentlemen,  managers  of 
the  place.  They  had  been  to  visit  a  man  in  the 
neighbourhood  who  was  dangerously  ill,  the  ac- 
count he  gave  of  himself  was,  I  believe,  nearly  as 
follows: — He  had  been  a  seafaring  man,  but  being 
in  London,  he  was  one  day  passing  through  Silver 
Street,  and  seeing  a  gateway  that  seemed  to  lead  to 
something  like  a  place  of  worship,  he  thought  with- 
in himself,  c  I  am  shortly  going  to  sea,  I  shall  per- 
haps never  have  another  opportunity,  I'll  go  in.*  I 
happened  at  that  time  to  be  the  preacher.  During 
the  course  of  the  sermon  something  that  was  said 
struck  him  so  very  much,  that  he  was  determined 
to  enquire  the  name  of  the  preacher,  which  he  ob- 
tained, and  which  it  seems  he  never  entirely  forgot. 
He  went  soon,  however,  to  sea,  not  thinking  much 
about  the  word  preached.  He  made  his  voyage  and 
returned.  Soon  after  he  was  was  laid  upon  the  bed 
of  sickness.  Now  he  began  to  recollect  and  seriously 
to  consider,  but  still  he  was  very  ignorant.  In  this 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  293 


situation  the  gentlemen  above  referred  to  saw  him: 
they  had  much  conversation  and  prayer  with  him; 
he  confessed  how  ignorant  he  was,  and  how  negli- 
gent he  had  been,  but  there  was  a  religion  that  he 
liked,  and  that  was  what  he  once  heard  a  Mr.  Buck 
preach  at  Silver  Street  Chapel.  The  gentlemen  were 
glad  to  hear  this,  they  had  now  something  to  work 
upon,  they  followed  up  their  visits,  convictions  were 
deepened,  knowledge  increased,  and  at  last  before  he 
died  he  gave  evident  testimony  that  God  was  with 
him.  He  died  very  happy,  and  one  of  his  last  ex- 
pressions was  this,  1 1  now  take  my  cable  and  fix  it 
on  my  anchor,  Jesus,  and  go  through  the  storm,'  or 
words  nearly  to  that  effect.  But  what  makes  this 
circumstance  more  interesting  is,  that  the  landlord 
of  the  house  was  himself  brought  under  serious  im- 
pressions, by  listening  at  the  door  to  hear  what  was 
going  on  between  this  man  and  the  visitors. 

M  Notwithstanding  my  school,  it  was  thought  de- 
sirable by  some  of  my  friends  to  obtain  a  place,  if 
possible,  where  I  should  more  constantly  preach. 
The  chapel  in  Princes  Street,  Moorfields,  was  to  be 
disposed  of.  It  was  obtained,  and  opened  December 
3,  1797.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Bryson  preached  in  the 
morning,  and  I  addressed  the  congregation  after- 
noon and  evening.  The  place  on  the  whole  was  well 
attended,  and  future  events  have  proved  that  I  was 
not  directed  there  in  vain. 

"  I  opened  also  a  Week-day  Lecture  in  the  large 
hall  at  my  own  house  at  Hackney.  This  was  ex- 
ceedingly well  attended,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe 
the  divine  blessing  attended  the  word. 
2  B  2 


294  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

u  In  former  days  Surry  Chapel  often  used  to  be 
the  place  of  my  resort,  and  I  may  truly  say,  if  ever 
I  enjoyed  any  thing  of  the  presence  of  God,  it  has 
been  at  this  place,  under  the  ministry  of  our  truly 
respected  and  venerable  friend,  Mr.  Hill.  I  was 
now  called  to  preach  there  on  a  Sabbath  evening,  to 
an  immensely  large  congregation.  This  was  affecting 
to  me,  as  it  reminded  me  of  former  times,  and  I  was 
happy  to  bear  my  public  testimony  in  a  place  where 
I  had  formerly  enjoyed  so  much. 

41  The  congregation  increasing  much  at  Princes 
Street,  many  were  anxious  to  have  the  ordinances 
■administered.  They  wished  that  some  kind  of  society 
or  church 'should  be  formed.  Accordingly  several 
persons  came  forward  who  were  thought  to  be  suita- 
ble characters,  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Brooksbank 
with  myself  attended  the  meeting,  a  plan  of  church 
government  was  read,  a  solemn  address  given,  and 
the  whole  committed  by  earnest  prayer  and  suppli- 
cation to  the  blessing  of  God. 

"  During  the  vacation  I  made  a  little  excursion 
for  the  benefit  of  my  health.  I  first  went  to  Farn- 
ham,  where  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  some  of 
my  old  friends;  from  thence  to  Southampton,  where 
I  was  kindly  received  by  that  respectable  and 
worthy  minister,  Mr.  Kingsbury;  from  thence  to 
Portsmouth,  and  Brighton,  where  I  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  hearing  rather  a  quaint,  but  still  excellent 
sermon  by  Mr.  Caldwell,  from  Psalm  cxxx.  6,  a 
sermon  I  think  I  shall  never  forget.  At  Lewes  I 
went  to  hear  the  curious  Huntingdon  Jenkins,  I 
think  as  much  like  Mr.  Huntingdon  in  manner  and 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  295 


mode  of  preaching  as  any  man  I  ever  heard,  except 
that  he  has  not  Huntingdon's  memory;  but  he  soon 
discovered  the  same  spirit  as  the  man  whom  he  so 
much  resembled.  His  prayer,  if  it  might  be  so  called, 
had  no  petition  in  it,  but  consisted  in  making  decla- 
rations, and  telling  God  Almighty  something  he  had 
not  known  before.  I  sat  just  before  him,  and  whe- 
ther he  thought  I  was  a  clergyman  or  not,  I  cannot 
tell,  but  he  fulminated  most  vehemently  against  car- 
nal ministers,  with  a  spirit  rather  of  triumph  than 
with  an  air  of  pity.  From  thence  I  proceeded  to 
Croydon  and  London,  and  resting  a  day  or  two,  set 
off  for  Cambridge  and  Newmarket.  Here  I  did  not 
stay  long;  for  expecting  an  event  at  home,  I  return- 
ed, and  in  a  day  or  two  had  an  accession  to  my  fa- 
mily of  a  third  child;  this,  however,  did  not  survive 
but  a  fortnight.  This  was  a  trial  I  never  felt  before. 
Perhaps  no  one  knows  what  it  is  to  lose  a  child,  but 
those  who  have  experienced  it;  when  taken  thus  so 
young  from  a  world  of  sin  and  trouble,  perhaps  it  is 
wrong  to  grieve  as  some  do;  herein  should  be  the 
language  of  submission.  c  The  Lord  gave,  and  the 
Lord  taketh  away,  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord.' 

"  But  death  comes  to  all  ages;  shortly  after  I  com- 
mitted to  the  grave  one  more  advanced,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Reyner,  Esq.*  and  preached  her  fu- 

*  I  cannot  pass  here,  without  paying- respect  to  a  name  worthy 
to  be  recorded.  He  wants  it  not;  hut  if  he  who  makes  eren  a 
blade  of  grass  to  grow  where  it  did  not  before  benefit  society, 
what  shall  we  say  of  him,  who  for  years  has  employed  himself  in 
visiting  the  abodes  of  the  wretched,  distributing  an  immense 


296  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

neral  sermon  at  Kingsland  Chapel,  from  2  Kings,  iv. 
26.    '  It  is  well.' 

"  But  death  comes  to  all  classes.  The  Rev.  Tho- 
mas Bryson,  who  lodged  in  my  house  at  Hackney, 
and  boarded  with  us,  was  taken  ill.  He  was  desirous 
of  trying  a  friend's  house  near  his  meeting,  where 
he  languished  till  the  24th  of  April,  1799,  leaving 
all  his  household  furniture  in  my  possession.  His 
funeral  was  respectably  attended.  His  funeral  ser- 
mon was  preached  at  the  New  Road  meeting,  by  the 
Rev.  John  Townsend,  and  I  endeavoured  also  to 
improve  it  at  Princes  Street  Chapel.  I  was  request- 
ed to  draw  up  his  epitaph,  which  may  be  seen  on 
his  tomb,  as  likewise  a  sketch  of  his  character, 
which  was  published  in  the  Evangelical  Magazine. 
I  felt  great  affection  for  him,  and  living  with  me 
for  a  time,  we  spent  many  happy  moments  together. 
Though  rather  irritable  in  his  temper,  yet  there  was 
a  conscientiousness  about  him  that  was  well  worthy 
to  be  imitated.  He  was  very  faithful  in  the  pulpit 
and  out  of  it.  I  never  knew  a  man  so  little  afraid  of 
giving  reproof  when  he  thought  it  necessary. 

u  Having,  as  before  stated,  been  always  fond  of 
the  pen  from  a  child,  so  I  never  lost  the  delight 
which  I  first  experienced.  After  I  came  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth,  I  began  immediately  selecting 
and  transcribing  from  various  authors  in  divinity. 
This  I  carried  on  also  while  a  student,  and  long  af- 

mimber  of  tracts,  projecting  useful  plans,  countenancing  useful 
societies,  and  always  stretching  out  his  hand  to  relieve  the  suf- 
ferings of  humanity,  or  contributing  to  the  propagation  of  the 
everlasting  gospel. 


REV*  CHARLES  BUCK.  297 

irwards;  so  that  I  have  filled  a  number  of  common 
place  books  of  various  sizes.  Among  the  rest,  I  had 
collected  a  number  of  anecdotes,  merely  for  my  own 
profit  and  entertainment.  This  volume  I  happened 
to  show  to  Mr.  Bryson,  who  thought  it  very  desira- 
ble to  publish  it,  if  the  anecdotes  were  but  properly 
arranged,  and  some  improvement  made  to  each. 
Here  then  I  began  my  authorship.  I  set  to  work, 
and  this  summer  published  the  first  volume  of  my 
anecdotes;  the  first  copy  of  which  that  came  from 
the  press  I  presented  to  my  mother,  as  a  token  of 
filial  affection  and  regard.  This  work,  in  an  improv- 
ed state,  with  an  additional  volume,^  I  have  great 
reason  to  be  thankful,  has  met  with  a  pretty  general 
circulation;  and  from  the  effects  produced,  I  have 
never  had  any  reason  to  lament  taking  the  advice  of 
my  above-mentioned  friend.  My  design  was  to  blend 
cheerfulness  with  piety;  to  show  in  some  characters 
the  deformity  of  vice,  that  the  reader  might  be  de- 
terred from  it,  and  in  general,  that  industry,  learn- 
ing, morals,  and  religion,  place  men  in  a  higher  si- 
tuation, and  secure  more  happiness,  than  can  possibly 
be  found  in  any  other  state,  where  ignorance  reigns, 
where  sloth  is  indulged,  morality  neglected,  and  re- 
ligion despised.  Some  they  have  caused  to  weep, 
others  they  have  made  smile;  but  if  by  this  publica- 
tion I  have  contributed  in  any  degree  to  enliven  the 
family  circle,  to  add  a  little  to  that  repository  of  this 
nature  which  ministers  and  others  delight  to  carry 


*  A  third  volume  has  been  published  since  his  death  by  Gale 
and  Fennei*. 


298  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

about  with  them;  if  the  relations  therein  contained 
have  strengthened  the  faith  of  any  in  Divine  Provi- 
dence; if  any  young  persons  have  received  any  im- 
pression, or  gathered  any  thing  from  it  to  stimulate 
to  honesty,  virtue,  and  religion;  then  will  I  rejoice, 
and  to  God  I  desire  to  give  all  the  glory. 

u  This  was  my  first  child  in  my  literary  family; 
though  I  have  now  to  record  the  introduction  of 
another  of  a  different  kind. 

"Samuel,  my  fourth  child,  was  born  September 
21,  1799,  and  baptized  at  Princes  Street  Chapel,  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Simpson,  October  27,  following,  and 
we  had  great  reason  for  gratitude,  as  it  was  a  time 
very  severe  and  distressing;  but  divine  goodness  in- 
terposed, and  prayer  was  answered. 

"  But  how  great  and  sudden  oftentimes  are  the 
changes  in  a  family.  One  is  born,  another  dies. 
What  is  this  but  a  striking  picture  of  the  world  at 
large.  Every  hour  multitudes  entering,  every  hour 
multitudes  departing.  My  mother  who  resided  with 
me  at  this  time,  was  taken  ill,  and  died.  Besides 
me,  she  had  two  sons,  who  unhappily  both  of  them 
turned  out  wild.  It  was  a  consolation  to  her,  that  I 
had  been  preserved,  and  that  she  had  to  spend  her 
last  days  in  peace,  and  with  a  child  of  whom  she 
once  said  in  her  letters,  "  that  she  was  happy  in 
having  one  boy  for  the  Lord."  It  afforded  me  also 
as  much  happiness  in  the  recollection  that  my  letters 
to  her  in  past  time,  when  she  lived  at  a  distance,  had 
been  the  means  of  impressing  her  own  mind  with  a 
deeper  concern  about  divine  things.  Her  death  was 
improved,   according    to    her   desire,  from  Psalm 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  299 


vX\  i.  6.  At  the  time  of  her  death,  I  was  preparing 
my  Theological  Dictionary.  It  was  not  a  little  sin- 
gular, that  I  had  just  finished  the  article  funeral  rites, 
and  the  next  I  had  to  begin  after  her  interment,  was 
future  state. 

"  But  what  a  world  of  deaths,  of  sorrows,  and 
of  accidents  in  this.  A  member  of  my  church,  a  Mr. 
Alexander,  in  attempting  to  go  from  one  ship  to 
another  in  the  River  Thames,  the  rope  by  which  he 
held,  suddenly  giving  way,  he  immediately  fell  into 
the  river,  and  was  not  seen  to  rise  again.  The  tide 
running  strong  every  effort  to  save  him  was  unsuc- 
cessful. His  body  lay  in  the  water  upwards  of  six 
days,  when  he  was  at  last  found  by  a  waterman. 
Here  then  was  a  sudden  transition  from  earth  to 
heaven!  The  night  before  his  death  he  was  heard  in 
prayer  to  utter  these  words, 


Why  should  we  start  and  fear  to  die, 
What  timorous  worms  we  mortals  are; 

Death  is  the  gate  of  endless  joy, 
And  yet  we  dread  to  enter  there." 


"  In  the  morning  the  family  met  as  usual  for  wor- 
ship. The  hymn  that  was  sung  was  the  42d  of  1st 
Book  of  Dr.  Watts,  'Adore  and  tremble  for  our 
God,'  &c.  which  being  of  a  very  awful  nature,  he 
mentioned  to  one  near  him,  that  his  mind  was  very 
solemnly  affected  with  it.  It  was  not  less  remarka- 
ble also  that  while  he  sat  at  breakfast  that  last  morn- 
ing, he  said,  i  that  he  longed  to  be  in  heaven.'  His 
wishes  were  realized  before  night,  as  there  was  rea- 


300  MEMOIRS  or  THE 

son  to  believe  he  was  truly  a  good  man.  I  improved 
his  death  to  a  large  congregation  at  Princes  Street 
Chapel,  from  Job.  xxiv.  22. '  No  man  is  sure  of  life.' 
"  At  the  close  of  this  year,  being  the  close  of  the 
century;  I  thought  it,  as  many  others  did,  a  subject 
worthy  of  improvement.  On  the  last  sabbath  even- 
ing, therefore,  I  preached  a  sermon  at  Princes  Street 
Chapel,  entitled,  '  The  Close  of  Eighteenth  Cen- 
tury improved,  in  which  the  most  remarkable  reli- 
gious events  of  the  last  hundred  years  are  consider- 
ed.' It  was  afterwards  published,  and  was  my  second 
appearance  in  a  public  dress.  Having  spoken  highly 
of  the  Humane  Society,  they  kindly  gave  me  an  in- 
vitation to  attend  their  public  anniversary.  On  every 
gentleman's  plate  was  a  paper,  in  which  I  found 
among  the  rest,  an  extract  from  my  sermon. 
After  dinner  many  of  the  persons  who  had  been  re- 
stored during  the  year  were  introduced,  they  walked 
round  the  room  with  a  bible  under  their  arms,  while 
the  music  played  in  the  most  gentle,  soft,  and  pleas- 
ing manner.  I  scarcely  ever  beheld  a  sight  more  in- 
teresting and  affecting.  It  drew  tears  from  my  eyes, 
to  see  greyheaded  old  men,  aged  women,  young 
persons,  women  with  infants  in  their  arms,  all  of 
whom  were  happily  rescued  from  a  watery  grave, 
by  means  of  this  institution.  I  could  not  help  retir- 
ing and  saying  within  myself;  if  that  be  an  invalua- 
ble institution,  which  saves  the  bodies  of  so  many 
from  destruction,  what  must  that  noble  plan  be 
which  has  for  its  object  the  salvation  of  immortal 
souls.  And  if  those  who  are  actively  employed  in 
using  every  exertion  for  the  safety  of  the  human  bo- 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  301 

dy,  are  to  be  considered  as  characters  highly  worthy 
of  honour  and  respect;  how  then  are  they  to  be  es- 
teemed, who  spend  their  whole  lives,  and  use  their 
utmost  efforts  to  save  souls.  He  then  who  saves  the 
body  is  humane,  but  he,  saith  Solomon,  who  win- 
neth  souls  is  wise. 

"  February  16, 1801, — An  addition  was  made  to 
my  family  by  a  fifth  child;  a  daughter,  whom  I 
dedicated  to  God  in  baptism  at  Princes  Street  Cha- 
pel. An  account  of  this  amiable  and  happy  child 
will  be  found  in  its  place,  as  she  was  not  spared  to 
dwell  in  this  vale  of  tears  more  than  eight  years 
and  six  months. 

"  This  year,  unknown  to  me,  I  was  chosen 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Missionary  Society.  A 
society  always  dear  to  me,  from  the  first  of  its  com- 
mencement. Its  object  so  grand,  its  plan  so  uncon- 
trolled and  liberal.  Its  constituents  men,  almost  of 
all  parties  or  denominations.  Its  directors  so  active 
and  disinterested,  that  I  truly  thought  it  an  honour  to 
be  enrolled  among  them.  For  the  first  eight  or  ten 
years  I  was  enabled  to  attend  the  different  meetings 
for  business,  and  which  I  did  with  great  pleasure. 
But  I  regret  that  through  repeated  indisposition,  I 
have  been  prevented  from  filling  up  my  place  as 
formerly. 

"  It  must  afford  pleasure  to  every  one  who  loves 
the  cause  to  find,  that  notwithstanding  all  the  op- 
position the  society  has  met  with,  and  the  difficulties 
with  which  it  has  had  to  encounter,  that  it  is  in  a 
state  of  the  greatest  prosperity.  I  cannot  help  ob- 
serving here,  that  I  look  upon  this  institution  as  one 

2  e 


302  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

of  the  most  valuable  ever  formed  in  Great  Britain. 
I  say  nothing  to  the  disparagement  of  other  societies 
engaged  before  or  since  in  the  same  work;  God  be 
praised  for  them.  But  this  society  is  founded  on  so 
noble  and  broad  a  basis,  that  it  looks  with  an  aus- 
picious eye  on  all  mankind,  without  any  design 
whatever  to  form  a  sect,  or  to  enlist  under  a  party. 
A  society  that  has  warmed  the  hearts  of  thousands 
upon  thousands  at  home.  A  society  whose  delightful 
influence,  under  God,  has  been  extensively  felt 
abroad.  A  society  that  has  promoted  Christian 
unity  among  ministers  and  others  in  a  manner  per- 
haps not  to  be  paralleled.  A  society  I  rejoice  to  say, 
that  has  been  the  fruitful  mother  of  a  numerous 
offspring,  now  rising  up  not  only  to  be  a  blessing  to 
Great  Britain,  but  shedding  their  happy  influences 
in  many  a  wilderness  and  solitary  place.  A  society 
that  has  called  forth  into  action,  the  energies,  ser- 
vices, zeal,  and  talents  of  numbers  who  were  before 
in  comparative  obscurity;  and  that  not  to  act  on  a 
contracted  but  grand  scale.  A  society  that  has  ex- 
cited a  spirit  of  prayer  and  reverberated  in  the 
sound  of  praise  throughout  the  nation  in  a  most 
pleasing  degree.  A  society  which  I  pray  may  still 
exist  and  prosper  in  union  with  all  other  institutions 
of  the  same  kind,  until  the  great  work  be  accom- 
plished and  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  see  the  salva- 
tion of  God.  And  when  this  hand  of  mine  that  now 
writes  these  lines  shall  lie  mouldering  in  the  dust, 
if  any  one  should  ask  who  Charles  Buck  was,  let  it 
be  answered  that  he  was  one  who  was  a  decided 
friend,  and  most  warmly  attached  to  the  Missionary 
Society. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  303 

iv  This  year  I  visited  Bristol  a  fourth  time.  The  con- 
gregations both  here  and  at  Kingswood,  are  as  large, 
if  not  larger  than  when  I  was  here  before.  Though 
the  harmonious  voice  and  the  amazing  powers  of 
the  great  founder  of  these  places  can  no  more  be 
witnessed  within  these  walls,  yet  the  glory  is  not  de- 
parted. The  good  done,  the  various  societies  form- 
ed, and  the  hundreds  of  children  now  under 
instruction,  would  have  rejoiced  his  heart  could  he 
have  foreseen  it.  Bristol,  like  London,  is  a  highly 
favoured  place,  where  there  are  valuable  ministers 
to  preach,  and  multitudes  pressing  to  hear  the  gkn 
rious  gospel. 

a  This  year  I  was  chosen  one  of  the  committee 
and  contributors  of  the  Evangelical  Magazine.  A 
publication  well  known,  aud  however  discarded  by 
some,  has  been  one  grand  instrument  of  carrying  on 
the  work  of  God  in  this  country.  If  it  be  not  a 
repository  for  critical  and  literary  researches,  for 
which  indeed  it  never  was  designed,  yet  it  must  be 
acknowledged  that  the  useful  matter  it  contains,  its 
peculiar  cheapness,  the  intelligence  it  communicates, 
the  noble  end  to  which  the  profits  are  appropriated, 
and  the  good  it  is  productive  of,  render  it  a  work 
worthy  of  countenance.  Multitudes  living  in  insular 
situations  who  have  no  opportunities  of  mixing 
much  with  society;  many  confined  in  chambers  of 
pain  and  sickness,  and  even  some  on  a  dying  bed, 
are  telling  the  moments  when  the  messenger  shall 
arrive  to  convey  to  them  a  work  which  presents  to 
them  information,  not  only  as  to  what  is  going  on  at 
home,  but  in  all  the  various  parts  of  the  world;  and 


504  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

such  has  been  the  rapid  march  of  truth  since  the 
time  of  its  commencement,  that  it  becomes  a  hun- 
dred times  more  interesting  than  it  was  at  its  begin- 
ning. We  have  a  vast  variety  of  periodical  publica- 
tions in  the  present  day,  and  the  more  the  better,  if 
they  tend  to  check  vice,  counteract  infidel  produc- 
tions and  do  good.  Some  may  excel  in  critical 
learning,  others  in  metaphysical  reasoning,  some  in 
able  reviews,  and  others  in  beautiful  language  and 
elegant  diction;  yet  however  excellent  their  claims, 
it  is  certain  the  Evangelical  may  at  least  mingle  in 
the  happy  circle,  and  in  her  turn  be  heard.  And  if 
she  cannot  say  what  some  can,  this  I  think  she  may 
be  allowed  to  declare,  *  I  have  been  eyes  to  the 
blind,  and  feet  to  the  lame.  I  have  been  a  father  to 
the  poor,  and  have  caused  the  xvidow^s  heart  to  sing' 
fir  joijS 

"  I  should  have  mentioned  before  that  my  preach- 
ing concerns  are  increasing;  I  found  that  my  school 
and  so  much  preaching  became  too  laborious,  and 
that  I  must  either  abridge  the  one  or  the  other.  I 
resolved  to  remove  nearer  town  and  take  only  a  few, 
which  I  accordingly  did,  but  finding  the  church  to 
increase,  and  many  avocations  beside,  with  a  very 
ill  state  of  health,  I  renounced  my  seminary  alto- 
gether with  the  exception  of  one  whom  I  retained 
with  me  for  a  time. 

"January  8,  1802. — The  various  societies  in 
London  at  this  period  began  wonderfully  to  revive. 
From  the  time  that  the  Missionary  Society  was 
established  it  seems  as  if  a  new  impulse  had 
been  givers  to  the  religious  world.  Improvements, 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  305 

enlargements  in  old  institutions,  many  new  ones 
daily  forming,  solicitations  were  made  for  sermons 
for  one,  countenance  for  another,  committees  for 
another.  Those  ministers  and  gentlemen  of  an  ac- 
tive turn  who  reside  in  London  and  its  vicinity, 
know  pretty  well  from  experience,  what  incessant 
calls  there  have  been,  and  still  are,  to  attend  the 
different  but  admirable  institutions  in  the  metropo- 
lis. Some  men  are  fitted  for  the  study,  others  for 
public  services.  I  thought  a  little  of  both  was  best, 
and  that  one  was  delightfully  prepared  for  the  other. 
Too  much  I  found  would  not  do  for  my  weak  consti- 
tution, I  was  therefore  obliged  to  keep  back  from 
several  important  things  in  which  I  was  requested 
to  engage.  The  committee  at  Hoxton  College  wish- 
d  to  put  me  on  their  list.  I  knew  not  how  to  re- 
use the  claims  of  my  Alma  Mater,  and  therefore 
became  one  of  the  number.  It  is  a  fault  in  us  per- 
haps to  engage  in  more  than  we  can  actually  per- 
form. A  few  men  may  be  found  of  such  strength  of 
constitution,  such  diversified  talents,  such  prompt- 
ness of  thought,  such  capability  of  adapting  them- 
selves to  almost  every  useful  object,  that  nothing- 
comes  amiss  to  them;  they  are  a  kind  of  universal- 
tsts  in  active  exertions  for  the  good  of  mankind. 
But  these  are  but  few,  and  those  of  a  liberal  spirit, 
who  cannot  do  what  they  would,  must  be  satisfied  to 
do  what  they  can.  I  have  always  thought  it,  and  O 
that  the  rising  ministry  may  always  think  it  an 
honour  to  be  employed  for  God,  whether  it  be  with 
one,  or  whether  it  be  with  ten  talents.  Standing  in 
the  midst  of  a  delightful  and  charming  circle  of  re* 
2  C  2 


306  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

ligious  and  benevolent  institutions  in  this  great  city, 
my  soul  has  burnt  to  grasp  them  all.  But  this  can 
only  be  done  by  desire  and  prayer  for  their  welfare. 
The  field  is  so  wide,  the  objects  so  numerous,  and 
the  time  required  so  much,  that  some  prudence  is 
required  even  here,  lest  in  a  benevolent  career  we 
run  so  fast,  as  to  kick  our  feet  against  a  stone,  and 
thus  impede  our  future  exertions.  I  cannot  but  re- 
mark, however,  here,  that  with  all  due  deference  to 
the  ministers  of  God  in  the  past  age  for  their  learn- 
ing, solidity,  talents,  judgment,  and  usefulness,  it 
is  for  this  age  that  the  Almighty  seems  to  have 
reserved  the  honour  of  more  extensive  exertions. 
Many  of  our  forefathers  had  hardly  any  thing  of  a 
public  nature  to  call  them  out  of  their  studies;  but 
now  a  zealous  minister  can  hardly  sit  in  his  study, 
at  all,  for  the  imperious  calls  of  open  and  public 
benevolence,  inviting  him  to  active  and  repeated 
exertions  in  the  sacred  cause. 

"  But  to  return  to  the  last  Committee  I  have  re- 
ferred to,  and  which  I  have  attended  generally  ever 
since,  I  have  found  to  be  a  very  important  and  re- 
sponsible one.  The  examination  of  candidates,  the 
discrimination  to  be  made,  the  fidelity  demanded, 
and  yet  the  tenderness  to  be  exercised,  require  no 
small  attention.  But  nothing  has  been  more  gratify- 
ing, than  to  consider  the  number  of  applications  for 
admission.  It  is  truly  pleasing,  not  only  as  it  re- 
gards this,  but  many  other  institutions  of  the  same 
kind,  to  observe  how  God  is  raising  up  and  sending 
forth  labourers  into  his  vinevard.  The  number  of 
young  men,  who    have  been    introduced  into   the 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  30J 


d 

: 


ministry  of  late  years,  is  a  delightful  consideration. 
New  chapels  are  erected;  old  ones  are  repaired; 
small  ones  are  enlarged;  the  gospel  introduced  into 
many  places  where  it  was  not  before;  so  that  we 
may  rejoice  in  the  prospect  of  increasing  good  being- 
done  in  every  direction. 

"  But  to  proceed:  the  cause  went  on  very  pros- 
perously at  Princes  Street  Chapel;  the  church  in- 
creased; many  pleasing  instances  appeared  of  con- 
verting grace.  A  servant  who  lived  with  us  at  this 
time,  was  greatly  affected  under  the  word,  became 
truly  serious,  joined  the  church,  and  is,  I  trust, 
walking  consistently  to  this  day.  It  must  be  no  small 
joy  to  Christian  masters,  when  instances  of  this 
kind  occur.  How  many  servants  will  have  reason 
for  ever  to  be  thankful  that  they  were  introduced 
into  Christian  families,  where  an  altar  for  God  was 
found,  and  opportunities  given  to  hear  the  gospel, 
by  which  means  they  have  been  brought  to  a  saving 
knowledge  of  the  truth. 

"  This  year  death  again  appeared  in  our  family. 
My  eldest  sister,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight,  was 
called  to  the  grave.  I  stop  here  to  pav  a  tribute  oi 
respect  to  her  memory.  She  had  been  in  London 
for  some  years;  was  a  woman  of  agreeable  m  rs. 

and  much  respected  by  those  who  knew  hei ,  b  i  an 
entire  stranger  to  the  truth.  To  me  she  was  a  great 
friend  on  my  first  coming  to  town;  but  when  I  be- 
came serious,  I  was  the  object  of  persecution  as  to 
my  religious  sentiments,  though  she  did  not  with- 
draw her  kindness  in  other  respects  from  me.  Her 
prejudices  ran  very  high  against  religion,  and  her 


303  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

language  sometimes  very  severe  and  bitter  against 
all  who  made  any  profession:  but  the  hearts  of  all 
are  in  the  hands  of  the  Most  High.  These  preju- 
dices began  at  last  a  little  to  subside;  and  after  all 
the  contests  we  had  had  about  religion,  to  my 
astonishment,  she  married  a  gentleman  who  was  a 
religious  man.  Her  Sabbaths  were  therefore  now 
differently  employed  to  what  they  had  been,  and 
very  different  from  any  thing  I  ever  expected.  Both 
she  and  her  husband  came  and  sat  under  my  minis- 
try at  Princes  Street,  and  when  the  time  of  her  last 
sickness  arrived,  I  was  sent  for  to  pray  by  her, 
which,  considering  former  circumstances  of  opposi- 
tion and  enmity  to  the  truth,  I  was  scarcely  able  to 
do,  being  overpowered  by  my  feelings.  Let  those 
who  have  persecuting  relations  not  despair.  Here 
is  an  instance  of  the  strongest  prejudice  removed, 
and  that  after  its  indulgence  for  a  great  number  of 
years.  Let  us  not  then,  at  any  time,  render  railing 
for  railing,  but  pray  earnestly  for  our  enemies  and 
those  who  are  out  of  the  way;  and  who  can  tell  but 
our  prayers  may  be  answered,  to  our  infinite  satis- 
faction and  happiness. 

"  It  will  appear  from  this  narrative,  that  while 
many  other  ministers  suffer  little  or  nothing  in  a 
long  course  of  years,  from  either  inconvenience  or 
dilapidated  state  of  their  places,  or  other  local  cir- 
cumstances; on  the  contrary,  I  have  been  much  tried 
in  this  respect,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter.  Just  as  we 
were  rising  into  great  prosperity  at  Princes  Street 
Chapel,  the  place  well  attended,  the  church  increas- 
ing, and  many  constantly  coming  forward  to  testify 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  309 

lie  power  of  the  word,  we  received  notice  from  the 
Steward  of  Lord  Darnley,  whose  property  it  was,  to 
quit  in  a  short  timt.  We  could  not  help  ourselves, 
as  we  had  no  legal  claim.  The  reason  of  the  notice 
was,  that  a  plan  had  been  laid  for  the  building  of  a 
new  market,  and  that  it  was  necessary  the  chapel 
should  be  pulled  down.  This  was  a  great  trial  to  me, 
considering  the  very  pleasing  prospect  we  had  be- 
fore us,  and  the  good  that  had  been  done.  The 
church  was  formed  2d  May,  1798,  with  but  a  few 
members,  and  now  at  our  leaving,  Sept.  7,  1802, 
being  about  four  years  and  four  months,  the  num- 
ber of  names  of  members  enrolled  in  the  church 
book  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  forty,  many  of 
whom  had  been  impressed  under  my  ministry  there* 
I  preached  my  last  sermon  there  from  2  Cor.  ii# 
14,  '  Now  thanks  be  unto  God  which  always  causeth 
us  to  triumph  in  Christ,  and  maketh  manifest  the 
savor  of  his  knowledge  by  us  in  every  place.'  It  was 
truly  an  affecting  and  solemn  time. 

"  The  place  was  soon  pulled  down.  I  went  and 
stood  on  its  ruins,  and  felt  within  myself  emotions 
of  a  mixed  nature;  a  kind  of  melancholy,  in  behold- 
ing our  sanctuary  laid  in  the  dust;  and  yet  a  plea- 
sure in  the  recollection  of  its  being  the  happy  spot 
where  many  first  began  to  draw  their  spiritual 
breath.  And  as  the  place  of  our  nativity  is  generally 
remembered  with  a  peculiar  fondness,  so  many 
could  not  pass  the  ruins,  without  being  deeply  af- 
fected on  the  remembrance  that  there  it  was  they 
received  their  new-birth,  and  became  new  creatures 
in  Christ  Jesus. 


310  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

"It  was  with  some  difficulty  our  friends  obtained 
a  place  to  which  we  could  remove.  At  last,  Camo- 
mile Street  Meeting  was  granted  us  for  afternoon 
and  evening  only,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reynolds  preach- 
ing in  the  mornings.  I  opened  my  commission  there 
from  Matt,  xxviii.  20.  The  place  was  so  crowded, 
and  such  a  contest  was  there  about  the  seats,  that 
many  thought  they  would  not  come  again.  This 
however  subsided,  as  no  doubt  curiosity  had  excited 
many  to  come  who  did  not  belong  to  us,  merely  to 
hear  the  first  sermon.  Here  then  again  we  fixed  our 
tabernacle  for  a  time,  except  that  we  found  it  rather 
a  disadvantage  not  having  the  place  in  the  morning, 
although  it  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  preaching 
elsewhere  at  different  places  on  that  part  of  the  day. 

"  I  had  been  for  some  time  employed  in  preparing 
for  the  press  my  Theological  Dictionary,  a  work 
which  cost  me  much  labour  day  and  night,  and  no 
one  to  assist  me,  except  now  and  then  the  bare 
copying  of  an  article.  The  vast  variety  of  books  to 
be  consulted,  the  discriminations  to  be  made,  the 
difficulty  of  seizing  those  accurate  definitions  I 
wanted,  the  various  opinions  of  authors  on  the  same 
subject,  the  including  every  article  in  Ecclesiastical 
History,  Theology,  and  Morals,  rendered  it  rather 
a  formidable  work  for  one  man,  and  that  a  weak 
one.  The  fact  was,  I  began  it  for  my  own  use, 
without  ever  thinking  of  making  it  public  to  the 
world:  but  as  I  advanced,  it  still  grew  of  more  im- 
portance. On  showing  it  to  some  friends,  they  were 
of  opinion  that  such  a  manuscript  should  not  be 
locked  up  in  obscurity,  and  that   the  sooner  it  was 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  311 

given  to  the  public  the  better,  being  a  distinct  thing 
from  all  other  dictionaries  which  had  been  publish- 
ed. I  have  said  it  was  a  work  of  labour,  but  I  must 
add  also  that  it  was  a  work  of  pleasure.  Here  in- 
deed I  realized  the  motto  Labor  ipse  voluntas.  It 
seems  as  if  it  were  to  be  done;  for  though  often  in- 
terrupted by  indisposition,  I  shall  never  forget  the 
ardour,  the  eagerness  I  felt  in  passing  from  one 
article  to  another,  until  the  whole  was  done.  On 
looking  back  to  some  of  my  papers,  I  found  this 
memorandum,  which  the  reader,  perhaps,  will  not 
think  it  superfluous  for  me  to  record. 

"Dec.  11,  1802. — This  evening,  after  near  four 
years,  I  finished  the  last  article  in  my  Theological 
Dictionary.  I  desire  to  be  thankful  for  health  and 
strength  given  me  to  finish  it.  O!  Father  of  mercies! 
let  it  be  a  lasting  blessing  to  thy  church,  and  to  all 
who  shall  peruse  it!  During  the  time  I  have  been 
employed  in  it,  I  have  met  with  some  of  the  greatest 
trials  both  in  body,  mind,  and  circumstances  I  ever 
experienced,  yet  hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  me. 
Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul!  Should  my  life  be 
spared,  may  it  be  still  employed  in  some  useful  ser- 
vice; that  while  I  live,  I  may  live  for  God,  as  well 
as  to  him.  Amen." 

"  The  work  was  published.  It  met  with  the  ap- 
probation of  the  public,  far  beyond  any  hopes  I 
could  indulge;  and  I  here  desire  to  offer  my  most 
unfeigned  thanks  to  Almighty  God,  for  the  useful- 
ness with  which  it  has  been  attended,  and  that  my 
life  has  been  spared  to  correct  and  enlarge,  and 
greatly  to  improve  it  in  succeeding  editions. 


312  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

"  January  25,  180.3. — I  have  now  to  record  ano- 
ther family  mercy,  in  the  safe  delivery  of  Mrs.  B. 
of  a  daughter,  being  the  sixth  child.  Repeated  sup- 
port demands  repeated  acknowledgments  of  the 
divine  goodness.  While  some  sink  under  the  trying 
hour,  peculiar  support  was  here  given,  so  that  we 
have  reason  to  say,  '  What  shall  we  render  unto  the 
Lord  for  all  his  benefits?'  I  dedicated  this  child  to 
God  in  baptism,  the  20th  day  of  March,  1803,  pub- 
licly at  Camomile  Street  Meeting. 

"  The  practice  of  vaccination  having  greatly  suc- 
ceeded, a  meeting  was  called  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  it  more  extensively  into  consideration.  With 
great  pleasure  I  attended  this  meeting;  the  Vaccine 
Institution  was  then  formed,  and  the  name  of  Dr. 
Jenner  celebrated  in  high  and  strong  encomiums. 
And  surely  whoever  has  any  pity  upon  mankind; 
whoever  rejoices  in  the  thought  of  preventing  con- 
tagion; whoever  is  desirous  that  their  children 
should  be  kept  from  pain  and  disfiguration;  who- 
ever wishes  to  alleviate  human  misery;  whoever 
wishes  to  rescue  a  human  being  from  the  dan- 
ger of  losing  his  life,  must  rejoice  in  the  discovery 
and  establishment  of  such  a  system  as  this.  Did  I 
not  know  something  of  the  nature  of  the  human 
mind,  I  should  marvel  at  the  prejudice  that  yet  re- 
mains against  a  system,  which,  if  properly  followed 
up,  would  banish  the  horrid  disease  of  the  small- 
pox out  of  the  world.  The  multitude  of  lives  saved 
by  vaccine  inoculation  already  is  astonishing.  What 
then  has  saved  one,  shall  I  withhold  from  another? 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  313 

There  is  hardly  any  thing  of  a  human  kind,  how- 
ever excellent,  but  may  have  failed,  or  had  its  ex- 
ceptions in  some  few  instances,  and  that  often  from 
circumstances  which  may  be  accounted  for.  This, 
therefore,  is  no  argument,  and  I  do  most  sincerely 
hope  the  time  will  come  when  all  prejudice  shall  en- 
tirely die  away. 

"  To  proceed  to  another  subject;  I  hope  I  am  no 
enthusiast,  nor  too  minute  in  the  detail  of  any  cir- 
cumstances which  relate  to  the  welfare  of  any  of  my 
fellow-creatures,  either  of  body  or  of  mind.  The 
operations  of  Divine  Providence  ought  to  be  care- 
fully marked  in  the  various  events  of  human  life, 
and  he  loses  a  most  delicious  treat  indeed,  who 
passes  through  his  appointed  career  without  ever 
recognizing  a  divine  hand,  or  observing  the  wisdom 
and  goodness  of  God  in  his  various  dispensations. 
It  so  happened,  that  a  certain  very  popular  and 
large  lectureship  in  the  city  was  one  evening  disap- 
pointed of  the  preacher.  The  managers,  in  great 
consternation,  applied  to  me;  and  though  it  was  ve- 
ry inconvenient,  I  obtained  a  supply  for  my  own 
place,  and  addressed  the  congregation  from  a  pas- 
sage connected  with  the  parable  of  the  tares.  Some 
time  after,  the  managers  received  the  following  let- 
ter from  a  young  man: 

"  A  Letter  from  a  young  man  to  the  Managers  of 
Broad  Street  Sabbath  Evening  Lecture. 
a  A  young  man  requests  you  to  join  him  in  praises 
to  Almighty  God  for  a  blessing  received  under  the 
word  delivered  in  this  house. 

2  D 


314  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

"  The  sermon  to  which  the  writer  alludes,  was 
preached  on  a  Sabbath  evening  so  long  since  as 
March  or  April  last,  from  the  parable  of  the  tares. 
Convictions  of  sin  and  the  fear  of  death  followed, 
which  brought  on  such  an  unhappy  frame  of  mind, 
and  such  weakness  of  body,  as  nearly  to  realize 
his  fears,  and  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  the  country, 
where  God  was  pleased  to  direct  him  to  that  great 
Physician  whose  blood  alone  proved  an  antidote  to 
his  afflictions. 

"  Independent  of  the  blessing  resulting  to  him  as 
an  individual,  from  being,  he  would  humbly  pre- 
sume, a  subject  of  mercy,  he  is  happy  to  join  his 
mite  with  the  thousands  who  bear  testimony  to  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Previous  to  this  he  attended 
the  moral  ministry  of  Dr.  R.  and  knew  nothing  of 
the  necessity  of  an  atoning  sacrifice  for  sin,  to  ena- 
ble a  man,  in  his  fallen  state,  ever  to  approach  his 
Maker;  but  the  Spirit  of  God,  by  this  sermon, 
showed  him  he  was  a  sinner,  and  that  he  could  not 
appear  before  a  just  and  perfect  God  without  being 
condemned.  Indeed,  so  strong  were  his  convictions, 
and  so  sensible  that  his  good  works,  on  which  he 
had  placed  his  reliance,  were  all  done  from  a  wrong 
motive,  that  he  recollects  praying  to  God,  in  de- 
spair, to  send  him  at  once  to  hell,  and  not  to  bring 
him  to  judgment.  This  awful  experience  should  in- 
fluence every  young  person  so  to  examine  them- 
selves, that  they  build  not  on  this  sandy  foundation, 
which  must  inevitably  give  way. 

"  When  under  these  distressing  circumstances,  it 
was  impressed  on  his  mind  that  religion  was  the 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  315 


only  thing  that  could  alleviate  his  trouble;  in  conse- 
quence, he  attended  closely  his  stated  place  of  wor- 
ship; but  alas!  the  preaching  of  morality  only  serv- 
ed to  deprive  him  even  of  hope,  for  he  found 
himself  unable  to  keep  the  perfect  law  of  God  for 
an  hour. 

u  Those  blessed  doctrines  of  the  imputed  righte- 
ousness of  Christ,  and  complete  pardon  for  those 
who  are  enabled,  through  mercy,  to  apply  the  blood 
of  sprinkling  to  their  conscience,  he  had  before  this 
been  unhappily  led  to  consider  as  enthusiasm  and 
madness;  which  now  being  realized,  made  him  one 
of  the  happiest  of  mortals;  and  now  he  lives  to  sing 
of  mercy,  and  to  declare,  and  hetr  usts,  through  grace, 
it  is  his  sole  desire  and  ambition,  to  be  an  humble 
follower  of  the  Lamb. — To  him,  with  the  Father 
and  Holy  Spirit,  be  praise  and  glory,  now  and  ever- 
more.  Amen." 

u  Thus  God  acts  as  a  sovereign,  and  works  by 
whom  he  will.  I  never  preached  at  this  lecture  be- 
fore nor  since.  Let  God  have  all  the  glory  and  all 
the  praise. 

"  March  28,  1803. — This  day  a  loss  was  sustain- 
ed to  the  Church  of  Christ,  in  the  death  of  the  Rev. 
John  Eyre,  of  Hackney.  I  was  myself  very  unwell 
at  the  time,  and  being  on  a  footing  of  intimacy  with 
this  worthy  man,  when  the  intelligence  came,  it 
affected  me  exceedingly.  Though  very  weak,  yet, 
as  I  was  invited,  I  struggled  hard  to  be  at  the  fune- 
ral, which  was  very  numerously  attended,  and  very 
solemn.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Glascott  read  the  burial  ser- 


3*6  '  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

vice,  and  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  delivered  a  fune- 
ral address  from  the  pulpit,  from  Matt.  xxv.  21. 

u  Mr.  Eyre  had  not  a  strong  constitution,  and 
was  often  laid  aside  from  his  beloved  work.  His 
mind  was  ardently  set  on  doing  good.  The  Evan- 
gelical Magazine  and  the  Missionary  Society  were, 
however,  two  of  his  favourite  objects.  For  these 
he  most  cheerfully  laboured,  and  for  their  success 
most  fervently  prayed.  He  lived  to  see  some  happy 
effects  produced,  at  home  and  abroad,  by  these 
moral  instruments;  but  had  he  lived  till  now,  how 
would  his  heart  have  rejoiced  in  beholding  the  seed 
springing  up  in  various  directions,  and  promising  a 
most  delightful  and  abundant  harvest.  His  portrait 
has  been  justly  drawn,  and  truly  it  was  said  of 
him,  that  in  every  relation  he  was  a  burning  and 
shining  light,  nor  was  the  Christian  less  eminent 
than  the  minister;  the  best  of  husbands,  the  tender- 
est  of  fathers,  the  kindest  of  masters,  and  most 
faithful  of  friends. 

u  His  eager  activity  to  be  useful  often  urged  him 
beyond  the  powers  of  a  body  enfeebled  by  labour 
and  disease.  The  sword  was  too  sharp  for  the  scab- 
bard; his  vivid  feelings  and  exertions  shook  the  ta- 
bernacle of  clay,  and  his  spirit  plumed  for  flight  to 
the  eternal  rest.  He  never  looked  on  death  with  dis- 
may, but  as  'a  consummation  devoutly  to  be  wish- 
ed.' His  affections  embraced  all  mankind.  His  in- 
creasing cares  and  pursuits,  more  abundantly  to 
diffuse  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  overwhelmed 
a  frame  become  broken,  yet  exulting  in  the  pleasure 
and  prospect  of  doing  good;  and  he  died  just  at  the 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  317 

moment  when  the  great  object  of  his  heart  appeared 
ready  to  be  accomplished.  His  last  hours  displayed 
the  triumph  of  faith,  and,  amidst  every  endeared 
attachment,  and  the  love  of  all  his  brethren,  his 
work  being  done  upon  earth,  he  meekly  bowed  his 
head  in  the  bosom  of  his  Lord,  of  whom  he  had  of- 
ten said,  in  the  midst  of  Christian  affection  and 
earthly  comfort,  ( that  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ 
was  far  better.'* 

"  This  year  I  was  chosen  one  of  the  preachers  at 
the  early  morning  lecture  now  held  at  Camomile 
Street.  This  is  well  attended,  and  it  is  pleasing  to 
find  so  many  rising  from  their  beds,  and  hastening- 
to  the  house  of  God.  This  lecture  is  of  ancient 
date;  it  was  instituted  in  the  year  of  the  glorious 
revolution,  1688,  and  has  been  carried  on  ever  since 
that  memorable  period.  These  services  are  very  de- 
sirable to  many,  who  are  in  situations  where  they 
have  not  the  whole  of  the  sabbath  at  their  command, 
and  there  is  great  reason  to  believe  much  good  is 
done. 

"  Those  who  have  children,  whatever  pleasure 
they  may  derive  from  them,  must  also  expect  to 
have  trials  with  them.  We  were  now  called  to  ex- 
perience a  different  sensation  to  any  thing  we  had 
known  before.  In  coming  home  from  a  friend's 
house  where  we  dined,  we  lost  our  youngest  son 
Samuel.  He  was  not  then  four  years  of  age.  From 
about  seven  o'clock  till  near  midnight  we  were  al- 
most distracted.  We  sought  in  various  places,  en~ 

*  Evangelical  Magazine,  July  1803,  p  286. 
2D  2 


318  ,  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

quired  of  watchmen,  and  others,  but  all  in  vain. 
We  had  him  cried,  but  to  no  purpose.  We  sat  me- 
lancholy, sometimes  imagining  he  might  be  shut  up 
in  Bunhill  Fields,  or  that  he  might  be  decoyed  by 
some  vagrant  for  the  sake  of  his  clothes — a  variety 
of  painful  suppositions  rushed  in  upon  the  mind. 
After  giving  it  all  up  for  that  night,  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  most  unpleasant  feelings,  a  knock  was 
heard  at  the  door,  which,  on  opening,  to  our  great 
happiness,  we  found  a  gentleman  of  our  own  ac- 
quaintance with  the  lad  in  his  hand.  Losing  his  way 
he  had  straggled  up  as  far  as  Islington,  and  finding 
he  was  wrong,  soon  brought  by  signs  of  his  distress, 
people  around  him.  A  kind  lady  took  him  under 
her  care,  gave  him  some  oysters  and  had  him  cried. 
The  gentleman  before  mentioned  happening  to  pass 
at  the  time,  thinking  it  might  be  a  son  of  ours,  took 
charge  of  him,  and  kindly  conducted  him  home. 
Thus  our  fears  were  removed,  and  we  retired  to 
rest,Hhankful  indeed  that  he  who  seemed  dead  was 
alive  again,  that  he  that  was  lost  was  now  found.  I 
have  not  mentioned  this  as  a  novel  circumstance, 
for  it  is  a  common  thing  for  children  to  be  lost  in 
this  great  and  populous  city,  but  no  one  can  tell  but 
those  who  have  experienced  it,  the  painful  sensa- 
tion of  a  parent  upon  such  an  occasion. 

"  Mr.  Kicherer,  one  of  the  Missionaries  in 
Africa,  visited  this  country,  and  brought  with  him, 
as  a  kind  of  specimen  of  the  good  doing  in  that  part 
of  the  world,  three  converted  hottentots.  These 
were  publicly  examined  at  several  places.  Among 
the  rest  I  catechised  them  at  Camomile  Street,  and 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  319 


it  was  truly  pleasing  to  hear  the  answers  they  gave 
without  knowing  the  question  till  it  was  proposed 
to  them.  A  specimen  of  an  examination  of  this  kind 
I  have  given  in  my  Practical  Expositor,  Nov.  7. 
How  pleasing  to  reflect  on  the  tendency  and  influ- 
ence of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  How  admirably  adapt- 
ed is  it  to  every  nation  under  heaven;  what  won- 
derful effects  are  produced  by  it;  and,  as  it  was  de- 
signed for  all  nations,  and  as  the  commission  is 
given  to  preach  it  to  every  creature,  and  as  the 
divine  presence  and  support  are  promised  to  the 
end  of  time,  so  may  we  not  expect  that  the  exer- 
tions now  making  in  different  parts  of  the  world, 
shall  be  crowned  with  success;  and  that  in  due  time, 
all  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  see  the  salvation  of 
our  God. 

"  This  year  was  remarkable  for  mortality  among 
the  ministers  of  the  gospel.  Among  others,  we 
might  mention,  Messrs.  Bradbury  of  Kennington, 
Caldwell  of  Silver  Street  Chapel,  Newell  of  Great 
Misscnden,  Crole^  of  Pinner's  Hall,  Densham  of 
itinerant  memory,  Jackson  of  Warminster,  Parsons 
of  Kineton,  Warwickshire,  De  Courcy  of  Shrews- 
bury, Reynolds  of   Camomile  Street,  Cuthbert  of 

*  Mr.  Crole  was  a  man  of  talent  and  application.  I  think  I 
have  heard  him  say,  that  he  could  not  well  go  to  rest  of  a  Sab- 
bath-evening until  he  had  fixed  his  subjects  for  the  Sabbath-day 
following,  a  week  before  hand;  he  thus  gave  himself  time  to 
think.  This  is  somewhat  different  from  those  who  tell  us  they 
hardly  know  what  to  preach  from  till  they  are  in  the  pulpit.  Mr. 
Crole's  conduct,  however,  is  not  here  quoted  as  an  invariable 
rule  for  all. 


320  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

Ely  Chapel,  Allison  of  Ponder's  End,  Brown  of 
Harlow,  besides  Mr.  Eyre,  whom  I  have  already 
referred  to.  But  the  work  of  the  Lord  has  not 
staid.  Others  have  been  raised  up  to  succeed  them, 
and  thus  the  cause  lives,  for  though  passing  perpe- 
tually from  one  instrument  to  another,  and  commit- 
ted to  earthen  vessels,  which  must  be  broken,  yet 
the  fountain  is  the  same,  and  as  long  as  ever  this 
continues  to  flow,  conduits  shall  not  be  wanting  to 
convey  the  sacred  streams  of  divine  truth,  to  water, 
enrich,  and  fertilize  a  wilderness  world. 

"  I  have  sometimes  thought  it  would  have  been 
an  honour  to  have  lived  in  the  days  of  the  Refor- 
mers, and  to  have  been  a  coadjutor  with  them  in 
the  great  work  of  bursting  asunder  the  shackles  of 
superstition,  and  dispersing  the  awful  shades  of  ig- 
norance which  covered  the  nations  of  Europe.  It 
would  have  been  an  honour  indeed.  That  glorious 
work  may  be  considered  the  foundation  and  fore- 
runner of  all  the  happy  events  since.  Yet  I  rejoice 
that  I  have  been  permitted  to  live  in  an  age,  which 
if  these  blessed  Reformers  could  have  fully  realised 
as  the  effects  of  the  seed  which  they  had  sown,  it 
would  have  no  doubt  filled  them  with  exultation  and 
delight.  They  rejoiced  in  the  emancipation  of  Eu- 
rope from  the  iron  bondage  of  spiritual  tyranny; 
they  took  such  courage,  in  beholding  only  a  gleam 
of  light  hovering  here  and  there  on  a  benighted 
world,  that  many  of  them  nobly  sealed  the  truth 
with  their  blood.  But  what  do  we  behold  in  the  pre- 
sent day?  Scenes  more  delightful  than  our  fathers 
ever  beheld.  They  laboured  indeed  honourably  and 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  321 

aithfully  in  the  great  cause:  they  were  employed 
as  the  sacred  pioneers  to  clear  the  way  and  break 
up  the  ground.  We  have  entered  into  their  labours. 
And  now  blessed  are  our  eyes  that  see  what  we 
see,  and  our  ears  in  hearing  what  we  hear.  Truly  a 
most  pleasing  scene  appears,  a  scene  which  God 
himself  delights  in,  in  which  the  Redeemer  shall  be 
exalted,  which  angels  shall  exult  at,  and  which  the 
Divine  Spirit  has  promised  to  bless.  Princes  and 
people,  nobles  and  dignitaries,  statesmen  and  their 
constituents,  merchants  and  mechanics,  the  opulent 
citizen  and  the  rustic  plebeian,  the  philosopher  and 
the  common  labourer,  the  rich  man  and  the  poor, 
the  advanced  in  age  and  the  juvenile  stripling,  the- 
master  and  the  servant,  parents  and  their  children, 
all  coming  forward  with  their  utmost  energy,  by 
their  exertions,  by  their  countenance,  by  their  con- 
tributions, by  their  prayers,  by  their  addresses  and 
exhortations,  to  promote  the  great  cause.  Blessed 
God!  'what,  under  many  years  of  weakness  and 
languor,  hast  thou  spared  me  to  see!  An  immense 
group  from  almost  all  denominations,  from  the 
prince  tp  the  peasant,  from  all  parts  of  this  happy 
country,  united  into  one  vast  assembly;  not  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  council  to  keep  the  people  in 
ignorance,  not  for  the  strengthening  of  a  party,  not 
to  bind  faster  the  chains  of  prejudice  and  ignorance, 
not  even  for  the  liberation  of  a  single  quarter  or  in- 
sulated part  of  the  earth;  but  with  a  sincere,  free, 
full,  unwearied  determination,  by  their  united 
efforts,  to  hoist  the  standard  of  unadulterated  truth, 
to  such  an  elevation  and  en  so  manv  eminences, 


322  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

that  not  only  Europe,  but  all  the  four  quarters  of 
the  globe,  shall  behold  its  glory.  I  am  led  to  these 
remarks,  from  the  consideration  of  the  next  cir- 
cumstance I  have  to  record  in  the  course  of  my 
life. 

"  I  attended  at  a  meeting  called  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  that  noble  institution,  The  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society.  And  here  I  cannot  but  con- 
gratulate my  beloved  country,  that  though  for  so 
many  years  engaged  with  other  nations  in  desolat- 
ing wars,  yet  some  of  her  sons  at  least  have  not  for- 
gotten the  blessings  of  peace,  even  of  that  peace 
which  extends  not  only  to  the  utmost  stretch  of  the 
life  of  man  here,  but  which  shall  be  commensurate 
with  eternity  itself.  A  peace  not  to  be  restricted  to 
the  little  narrow  bounds  of  the  island  in  which  we 
live,  but  to  extend  its  influence  far  and  wide.  O 
England,  highly  favoured  of  heaven,  while  many 
other  nations  are  sunk  in  infidelity  and  superstition, 
thou  art  privileged  in  the  possession  of  a  vast, 
mighty,  moral  reservoir,  from  whence  the  sacred 
streams  of  divine  revelation  are  flowing  into  all 
parts  of  the  earth;  so  that  the  wilderness  and  the 
solitary  place  shall  be  glad,  and  the  desert  rejoice 
and  blossom  as  the  rose.  Die  then  when  I  may,  let 
it  be  written  on  my  coffin,  "  He  lived  in  a  happy 
day."  This  institution,  notwithstanding  its  opposi- 
tion, has  abundantly  succeeded,  and  the  annual  re- 
ports are  fraught  with  the  most  interesting  intelli- 
gence. 

"  Mr.  Lacey,a  member  of  our  church,  appearing 
to  have  gifts  for  the  ministry,  was  called  to  settle 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  323 


over  the  church  at  Winchmore-hill.  His  ordination 
was  fixed,  and  it  devolved  upon  me  as  his  pastor  to 
give  the  Charge.  These  services,  if  they  were  not 
quite  so  long  and  tedious,  and  that  in  general  in  the 
midst  of  a  heated  and  crowded  congregation,  are  of 
a  most  solemn  and  interesting  nature.  Leaving 
every  thing  comparatively  beside,  and  taking  upon 
ourselves  the  charge  of  souls,  is  of  all  the  most  im- 
portant concern.  An  ordination  therefore  of  a  Chris- 
tian minister,  is  no  trifling  circumstance,  but  con- 
nects with  it  ideas  of  the  most  serious  and  import- 
ant nature.  Considering  the  responsibility  of  the 
trust  committed,  the  work  a  minister  has  to  do,  and 
the  little  time  he  has  to  do  it  in,  makes  him  tremble 
who  gives  the  charge,  as  well  as  the  person  who  re- 
ceives it,  if  they  feel  as  they  ought  to  feel.  Upon 
this  occasion,  however,  I  engaged  in  this  important 
part;  the  Rev.  William  Thorpe  asked  the  questions, 
and  addressed  the  people,  and  the  Rev.  Matthew 
Wilks  prayed  the  ordination  prayer." 

"  The  Rev.  T.  Lewis  was  set  apart  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  at  Orange-street  Chapel.  I  was  called 
to  give  the  introductory  address.  Dr.  Nicholl  pray- 
ed the  ordination  prayer.  Mr.  Burder  gave  the 
charge,  and  Mr.  Rov/land  Hill  preached,  who  was 
pleased  to  say,  that  this  was  a  downright  catholic 
ordination" 

Thus  far  Mr.  Buck's  trembling  hand  conducted 
his  narrative.  Here  it  abruptly  ends.  The  functions 
of  nature  failed  him;  and  the  thread  of  the  story 
must  be  taken  up  and  pursued  by  another.  Mr, 
Buck  with  his  congregation,  occupied  the  Meeting- 


324  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

house  at  Camomile-street,  from  Sept.  1802  till  De- 
cember 20,  1804.  On  the  latter  day  they  removed 
to  Wilson-street  Chapel,  which  then  offered  them 
excellent  accommodation.  But  the  comparatively 
"  little  one"  becoming  "  a  great  city,"  demanded  at 
length  a  more  commodious  place  of  worship.  Near- 
ly seven  years  of  useful  labour  Mr.  Buck  spent,  as 
pastor  of  the  church  assembling  in  Wilson-street. 
How  his  heart  must  have  expanded  with  gratitude 
to  God,  as  he  beheld  this  interest  of  his  own  raising, 
gradually  multiplying  its  numbers  and  extending  its 
influence.  His  publications,  which  were  continually 
issuing  from  the  press,  and  reprinting,  induced 
many  to  hear  him,  whom  his  solid  and  faithful 
preaching  instructed  and  improved.  We  find  him 
now  taking  a  prominent  station  among  his  brethren, 
engaging  in  important  occasional  services,  assisting 
at  the  ordinations  of  Missionaries  and  Pastors,  and 
pleading  the  cause  of  various  charitable  and  reli- 
gious institutions.  Of  him  we  may  truly  say,  that  his 
popularity  did  not  precede,  but  was  rather  the  effect 
of  his  usefulness;  it  was  therefore  solid  and  increas- 
ing; the  friends  and  admirers  whom  he  attracted,  he 
never  alienated;  he  kept  the  ground  which  he  had 
acquired,  and  every  day  added  to  the  power  and 
extent  of  his  influence.  His  volumes  of  Anecdotes 
were  perused  with  avidity.  They  still  constitute  the 
light  reading  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the  reli- 
gious world,  and  amuse  while  their  object  is  to  in- 
struct. Their  chief  merit  is,  that  of  judicious  com- 
pilation, and  pertinent  reflections,  suggested  by  the 
facts  related.  The  rapid  and  continued  sale  of  this 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  325 


ra 

ha 


work  excited  a  large  share  of  public  attention  to  its 
author.  But  the  Theological  Dictionary,  his  second 
and  greatest  performance,  has  contributed  more  than 
any  of  his  works,  to  his  reputation  as  a  divine.  A 
short  and  well  written  extract  from  the  Preface  will 
explain  its  nature  and  design. 

u  The  plan  of  conveying  knowledge  by  Dictiona- 
ries, has  been  long  established  and  well  received  in 
the  republic  of  letters,  A  dictionary,  however,  of  a 
religious  and  ecclesiastical  nature,  was  still  a  deside- 

tum  in  the  religious  world:  for  although  we  have 
ad  dictionaries  which  explained  Scripture  terms, 
yet  it  is  evident  these  could  not  embrace  the  history 
of  the  church,  since  the  sacred  canon  was  conclud- 
ed, nor  explain  the  numerous  terms  which  have 
been  used,  nor  indeed  point  out  the  various  sects 
and  denominations  which  have  subsisted  since  that 
time." 

u  There  may,  doubtless,  be  defects  in  this  publica- 
tion which  may  have  escaped  my  attention:  but,  who- 
ever considers  the  various  books  that  must  have 
been  consulted,  the  discriminations  that  were  neces- 
sary to  be  made,  the  patient  investigation  required, 
and  the  toil  of  reflecting,  transcribing,  and  compar- 
ing, must  be  convinced  that  it  has  been  attended 
with  no  small  difficulty.  The  advantages,  however, 
which  my  own  mind  derived  from  the  work,  and 
the  probability  of  its  being  useful  to  others,  greatly 
encouraged  me  in  its  prosecution.  Besides,  to  be  ac- 
tive, to  be  useful,  to  do  something  for  the  good  of 
mankind,  I  have  always  considered  to  be  the  honour 
of  an  intelligent  being.  It  is  not  the  student  brought 
2  E 


326  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

up  in  metaphysical  subtleties;  it  is  not  the  recluse 
living  in  perpetual  solitude;  it  is  not  the  miser  who 
is  continually  amassing  wealth,  that  can  be  consider- 
ed as  the  greatest  ornaments  or  the  greatest  bless- 
ings to  human  society. — It  is  rather  the  useful  than 
the  shining1  talent,  that  is  to  be  coveted." 

u  Perhaps  it  may  be  said,  the  work  is  tinctured 
too  much  with  my  own  sentiments,  and  that  the  theo- 
logy is  too  antiquated  to  please  a  liberal,  philosophi- 
sing and  refined  age.  In  answer  to  this,  I  observe, 
that  I  could  do  no  other,  as  an  honest  man,  than 
communicate  what  I  believed  to  be  the  truth.  It  is  a 
false  liberality  to  acquiesce  with  every  man's  opi- 
nion, to  fall  in  with  every  man's  scheme,  to  trifle 
with  error,  or  imagine  there  is  no  difference  between 
one  sentiment  and  another;  yet  notwithstanding  this 
declaration,  I  trust  the  features  of  bigotry  are  not 
easily  discernible  in  this  work;  and  that  while  I  have 
endeavoured  to  carry  the  torch  of  truth  in  my  hand, 
I  have  not  forgotten  to  walk  in  the  path  of  candour." 

In  the  year  1805,  Mr.  Buck  published  his  Trea- 
tise on  Religious  Experience,  and  a  charge  deliver- 
ed to  Mr.  Davison,  at  his  ordination.  Mr.  D.  was 
a  member  of  the  church  at  Wilson  Street,  and  was 
introduced  through  its  medium  into  the  Christian 
ministry.  In  addition  to  him  Mr.  Buck  mentions 
eight  others,  who  went  from  under  his  pastoral  care 
to  engage  in  the  same  sacred  and  glorious  work; 
among  these  are  the  names  of  Lacey,  Dunn,  and  Hew- 
ard.  The  charge  to  Mr.  Davison  is  affectionate  and 
judicious.  The  work  on  experience  is  too  well  known 
to  the  religious  public,    to  require  any  lengthened 


I 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  327 


statement  of  its  character  and  design  in  this  place. 
A  periodical  critic  has  thus  justly  and  succinctly 
described  its  merits.  "  There  is  much  (says  the  Bri- 
tish Critic)  in  this  book  on  which  every  Christian 
may  meditate  with  advantage;  much  reflection  on 
religious  subjects;  much  knowledge  of  the  human 
heart,  and  of  the  manner  in  which  divine  grace  af- 
fects and  improves  it,  are  here  displayed.'' 

In  1807  this  indefatigable  writer  gave  to  the 
world  the  first  edition  of  his  Young  Christian's 
Guide,  or  suitable  directions,  cautions,  and  encou- 
ragement to  the  believer  in  his  first  entrance  into  the 
divine  life.  A  book  more  serviceable  than  this  could 
not  have  made  its  appearance.  It  is  certainly  one  of 
the  most  useful  productions  of  the  author's  pen. 
One  large  impression  after  another  has  been  eagerly 
purchased,  and  it  will  continue  to  be  in  request 
while  pure  and  evangelical  religion  flourishes  in  the 
midst  of  us.  In  the  same  year  Mr.  Buck  preached 
and  published  his  excellent  discourse  on  the  import- 
ance of  the  Gospel  Ministry.  It.  was  delivered  at 
Hoxton  Chapel,  at  the  second  anniversary  meeting 
of  the  ministers  educated  at  Hoxton  Academy. 
The  invaluable  benefits  which  may  accrue  to  the 
Christian  church  from  a  regularly  educated  minis- 
try, forms  the  prominent  subject  of  this  sermon.  Of 
the  academy  which  gave  rise  to"  it,  he  observes,  after 
speaking  of  the  increase  and  prosperity  of  similar 
establishments, — u  I  cannot  but  congratulate  the 
constituents  of  this  institution.  When  I  consider 
what  it  once  was,  when  I  review  the  increased  libe- 
rality of  the  public  for  its  support,  when  I  think  of 
the  pains  and  the  prudence  taken  to  render  it  what 


328  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

it  is,  and  the  favour  God  has  given  it  in  our  Israel, 
I  feel  thankful.  It  has  been  a  fountain,  the  streams 
whereof  have  made  glad  many  a  desert;  and  though 
it  is  true  that  the  vessels  and  the  pipes  have  been, 
like  all  others,  only  earthen  ones,  yet  .those  who 
have  had  the  management  of  them  deserve  great 
praise  for  giving  them  a  right  direction." 

Again,  he  further  remarks,  "  let  us  always  coun- 
tenance a  regular  gospel  ministry,  and  be  ever  ready 
to  patronize  all  those  means  which  most  effectually 
promote  it.  Some  are  too  forward  in  puffing  up 
those  who  despise  learning;  and  because  they  can 
preach  for  an  hour  together  upon  some  odd  text,  or 
spiritualize  every  thing  they  meet  with  in  scripture, 
that,  therefore,  they  do  not  stand  in  need  of  instruc- 
tion from  such  institutions  as  these.  But  let  us  ne- 
ver encourage  such  a  spirit;  rather  let  us  set  our 
faces  against  it:  and  where  we  find  pious  and  gifted 
young  men,  let  us  urge  them  to  seek  those  advan- 
tages which  these  seminaries  afford.  I  hope  I  can 
speak  from  experience  when  I  say,  that  it  was  to 
me  a  blessing  of  such  magnitude,  as  demands  my 
gratitude  so  long  as  I  have  a  being.  Nor  can  I  con- 
ceive what  can  be  more  reasonable  than  that  a  suit- 
able portion  of  time  should  be  devoted  to  the  pur- 
pose of  gaining  knowledge.  In  vain  it  is  said  that  it 
engenders  pride,  and  other  evil  qualities:  in  my 
opinion,  an  academy  has  the  power  of  making  the 
volatile  thoughtful,  the  enthusiast  sober,  the  lethar- 
gic studious,  and  the  proud  humble;  yes,  I  am  tho- 
roughly convinced  if  there  be  any  one  place  in  the 
universe  calculated  to  pull  down  the  pride  of  con- 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  329 

ccited  youth,  it  is  an  institution  like  this,  where  he 
sees,  as  in  a  glass,  his  own  wretched  picture." 

The  following  letter  bears  the  date  of  1808,  and 
is  addressed  from  Bristol  to  some  friends  in  Lon- 
don. r  *-•>-■■  , 

No.  LIIL 

"  Dear  Friends — You  have  heard  no  doubt  by- 
Mrs.  B.  of  my  safe  arrival  here;  but  I  cannot  say 
that  I  am  so  well  as  I  was  when  here  last  year.  In- 
deed the  week  before  I  came  I  was  unfit  to  be  out 
of  the  house;  but  I  cannot  bear  to  be  confined  from 
my  work,  while  I  can  any  way  be  engaged  in  it. 
But  if  I  am  not  so  well  in  health  as  at  former  sea- 
sons, I  have  not  had  less  consolation,  at  least  hi- 
therto. It  will,  I  know,  afford  you  peculiar  gratifi- 
cation to  hear  that  my  labours  here  in  past  time  have 
been  rendered  successful.  Two  persons  have  been 
with  me,  whom  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  have 
been  called  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth:  one  the  last 
time  I  was  here,  the  other  the  time  before.  The 
account  that  one  of  them  gave  me  was  nearly  as 
follows:  When  Mr.  Wilks  was  here  some  time 
ago,  he  had  to  bury  a  corpse  at  Kingswood,  where 
he  was  going  to  preach.  This  man  was  one  of  the 
mourners;  but  such  was  his  prejudice,  that  though 
he  attended  the  funeral,  yet  he  wrould  not  go  into 
the  place  of  worship;  for,  said  he,  "  I  thought  my- 
self as  good  as  Mr.  Wilks."  Some  time  afterwards, 
however,  as  he  was  strolling  about  on  the  Sabbath 
day  according  to  custom,  he  came  near  to  the  place> 
and  without  any  kind  of  thought  he  stept  in.  So  it 

2  E  2 


330  MEMOIRS  OF  TtfE 

was  ordered  in  Providence  I  was  to  preach.  I  took 
for  my  text  those  words,  "  He  brought  me  to  the 
banqueting  house,  and  his  banner  over  me  was 
love."  Under  this  sermon  he  was  struck  with  keen 
convictions  of  the  sinfulness  of  his  past  conduct. 
The  word  followed  him  and  continually  resounded 
in  his  ears,  "  Come  to  my  banqueting  house,  come 
to  my  banqueting  house,  my  banner  over  thee  is 
love."  He  had  been  a  very  profligate  character;  he 
tried  all  he  could  to  shake  off  these  convictions;  and 
getting  among  his  old  companions,  he  endeavoured 
incessantly  to  get  drunk  to  drown  reflection;  but 
behold  the  impression  was  more  powerful  than  the 
liquor;  for  all  he  could  do,  the  liquor  took  little  ef- 
fect on  him,  nor  could  he  lose  his  feelings.  After 
this  his  distress  was  so  great,  he  was  almost  in  de- 
spair, and  his  eyes  were  swelled  with  weeping. 
One  day  (his  family  not  being  serious)  he  got  into 
a  kind  of  pit  or  quarry  by  himself;  where  he  thought 
no  eye  was  upon  him  but  the  Lord's.  Here  in  the 
agonies  of  his  soul  he  wept,  he  trembled,  he  prayed 
to  the  Lord  to  have  mercy  on  him.  At  that  very 
time  a  person  that  knew  him,  and  who  was  a  seri- 
ous man,  providentially  came  by,  and  observing  he 
had  been  weeping,  and  knowing,  most  probably,  he 
had  been  to  hear,  said  to  him,  "  Why,  -what  is  the 
.matter  with  thee?  Why  Buck  has  not  overtaken  thee, 
has  he?"  With  a  heart  broken  he  replied,  "  Ah!  he 
has,  he  has"  Of  course  this  was  no  small  joy  to  his 
friend,  who  was  'glad  to  give  him  all  the  encou- 
ragement in  his  power.  For  five  weeks,  however, 
he  was  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  distress;  till  at  last 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  331 

the  Lord  was  pleased  to  set  him  at  a  happy  liberty; 
and  from  that  time  the  gospel  has  been  precious  to 
his  soul,  and  he  seems  as  full  of  affection  and  gra- 
titude as  ever  I  saw  a  penitent  in  my  life. 

This  man,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  came  to  tell  me 
this  good  news.  So  affected  was  he  last  Sabbath  in 
hearing  me  preach,  and  the  recollection  of  former 
feelings,  that  he  could  scarcely  refrain  from  crying 
out,  and  the  sweat  ran  down  his  hands  as  if  they 
had  been  bathed.  His  wife  is  not  a  serious  woman, 
and  never  hardly  goes  to  place  of  worship;  but  no- 
thing would  serve  but  she  must  come  last  Sabbath 
to  hear  the  unworthy  insrument.  "  Well,"  said  he 
to  her  in  going  home,  "  what  dost  thou  think  about 
this?"  "  Why,"  said  she,  "  I  do  seem  t©  like  him." 
— "  Aye,  but  dost  know;  dost  understand  any  thing 
he  said?" — "  Why,"  says  she,  u  he  has  told  me  all 
that  I  do  do." — u  Well,"  said  he,  "  and  what  dost 
think,  suppose  thee  shouldst  die  to  night,  what 
would  become  of  thee?"  "  Why,"  said  she,  "  ac- 
cording to  what  I  have  heard,  I  am  afraid  I  shall  go 
to  hell." — Thus  I  have  related  in  his  own  language, 
as  near  as  I  can  recollect,  the  account  he  gave  me. 
— I  feel  much  humbled,  though  I  trust  grateful,  that 
God  should  make  use  of  such  an  unworthy  crea- 
ture. I  desire  to  give  Him  all  the  praise,  because  I 
am  sure  it  is  his  own  work.  May  the  Lord  go  on 
to  crown  all  my  feeble  attempts  with  success,  and 
give  me  many  souls  which  shall  be  my  joy  and  crown 
of  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

"  I  hope  to  be  home  by  the  church  meeting.  The 
substance  of  this  letter  I  have  not  communicated  to 


332  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

mv  dear  Mrs.  B.  for  want  of  room.  If  you  will  show 
it,  therefore,  I  know  it  will  be  gratifying.  Remem- 
ber me  kindly  to  all  friends.  Hope  you  are  all  well, 
and  enjoying  much  of  the  divine  blessing.  I  remain, 
4i  Yours  most  affectionately  in  the  Gospel, 

«C.  Buck." 

Mr.  Buck's  volume  of  sermons  on  select  subjects, 
made  its  appearance  in  1810.  The  work  is  credita- 
ble to  his  talents,  and  is  a  fair  specimen  of  his  pul- 
pit exercises.  The  subjects  are  highly  important; 
?.nd  the  sermon  on  Gospel  Liberty  is  pre-eminently 
excellent. 

In  1811,  Mr.  Back  and  his  congregation  removed 
from  Wilson  Street  to  the  City  Chapel,  in  which  he 
laboured  until  laid  aside  by  that  illness  which  ter- 
minated his  active  and  useful  life. 

I  remember  congratulating  him  on  taking  posses- 
sion of  this  strong-hold  of  Antinomianism,  and  driv- 
ing the  monster  for  ever  away.  I  jocularly  asked  him 
if  he  did  not  find  it  almost  impossible  to  cleanse  the 
pulpit  from  its  filthiness?  With  a  smile  he  answered, 
that  he  did  not  attempt  it,  but  turned  it  completely" 
out  to  make  way  for  that  in  which  he  had  so  long 
preached,  and  which  was  removed  by  his  particular 
desire  from  Wilson  Street. 

In  the  May  of  this  year,  religious  liberty  obtained 
one  of  its  noblest  victories.  The  celebrated  bill  of 
Lord  Viscount  Sidmouth,  intended  to  impose  re- 
strictions on  the  Dissenters  and  Methodists,  ex- 
perienced the  fate  which  it  justly  merited.  I  am 
willing  to  hope  that  the  noble  proposer  of  this  mea- 


REV.     CHARLES  BUCK.  33^ 


s 


sure,  was  not  fully  aware  of  its  pernicious  and  illi- 
beral tendency.  It  was,  however,  sufficiently  under- 
stood by  all  the  enlightened  friends  of  freedom,  and 
opposed  with  a  unanimity  and  energy  which  in- 
sured its  triumphant  defeat.  His  Grace  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  was  astounded  at  what  he  was 
pleased  to  call,  "  the  flood  of  petitions  which  de- 
luged the  table  of  the  House  of  Lords,"  and  choked 
up  all  its  avenues.* 

*  The  dissenting  ministers  were  greatly  amused  at  the  de- 
scription which  Lord  Sidmouth  gave  of  some  of  their  frater- 
nity— "  Blacksmiths,  coblers,  tailors, pedlars,  chimney-sweepers, 
and  what  not,"  and  the  following  short  fragment  was  in  private 
circulation  at  the  time  of  the  failure  of  the  bill.  It  purports  to 
be  a  sermon,  delivered  by  one  of  the  ignorant,  self-instructed 
teachers,  who  descended  "from  a  chimney,"  to  address  his 
brethren  on  this  interesting  and  joyous  event. 

"  The  Lord  hath  triumphed  gloriously,  he  hath  overturned 
the  horse  and  his  rider  in  the  sea." 

"  My  beloved,  my  text  celebrates  a  triumph,  a  glorious  triumph, 
a  triumph  in  the  cause  of  religion  and  liberty,  obtained  by  God 
ver  the  enemies  of  his  church,  and  therefore  it  is  quite  suited 

our  present  purpose.  The  Lord  hath  a  second  time  overturned 

e  horse  and  his  rider  in  the  sea.  I  shall  leave  you  to  read  at 
leisure  the  history  of  the  children  of  Israel,  their  oppressions 
and  persecutions  by  Pharaoh,  and  the  destruction  of  that  tyrant, 
who  sank  like  lead  in  the  mighty  waters;  and  I  shall  now  speak 
a  little  of  our  great  deliverance,  and, 

"  First,  Let  me  call  your  attention  to  the  horse  and  his  rider. 

"  This  horse,  my  beloved,  we  may  consider  as  Lord  Sid- 
mouth's  Billy  and  the  rider  as  Lord  Sidmouth  himself.  You 
know,  my  beloved,  we  have  all  our  hobby-horses,  and  we  are 
never  so  pleased  as  when  we  are  riding  them.  This  Bill,  I  am 
informed,  was  Lord  Sidmouth's  hobby  when  he  was  called  the 
Doctor.  He  used  even  then  to  take  an  airing  upon  it  occasionally, 
when  his  professional  avocations  would  allow  him  opportunity. 


334  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

Mr.  Buck  felt  the  most  lively  interest  in  com- 
mon with  his  brethren,  in  the  preservation  of  the 
inheritance  which  the  mild  and  tolerant  government 

On  becoming  a  viscount,  he  did  not  forget  his  old  and  faithful 
companion.  For  nine  years  past  he  has  been  in  the  habit  of 
mounting-  it  in  the  presence  of  his  numerous  friends,  patrician 
and  plebeian.  My  lords  the  bishops  and  most  of  the  clergy  have 
always  complimented  his  lordship  on  the  spirit  of  the  animal, 
and  his  wonderful  dexterity  in  managing  it.  They  were  pecu- 
liarly delighted  when  it  kicked,  capered,  and  pranced;  and 
even  some  dissenting  ministers,  it  is  said,  when  the  creature 
•was  :it  rest,  used  to  approach  it  in  secret,  and  laud  the  propor- 
tion of  its  parts,  and  its  exceeding  gentleness.  They  thought  it 
was  a  very  fine  horse,  and  as  his  lordship  assured  them  it  could 
do  no  mischief,  they,  poor  credulous  souls,  believed  him.  I  have 
just  intimated  that  this  animal  was  high  spirited  and  re&tive. 
This  no  doubt  arose  partly  from  his  nature  and  partly  from  the 
tender  solicitude  with  which  he  was  reared.  He  has  been 
known  to  stand  in  the  finest  stalls  in  the  kingdom,  and  ostlers 
"with  black  aprons  and  lawn  shirt  sleeves  have  often  rubbed  him 
down,  and  kept  him  in  good  case.  Every  body  wondered  for 
what  important  service  this  marvellous  horse  was  reserved,  till, 
about  the- beginning  of  the  present  month,  (May)  they  were 
astonished  by  his  snorting  and  trampling,  and  the  manner  in 
which  he  was  caparisoned.  They  learnt  very  soon  that  he  was 
destined,  like  another  llosinante,  to  bear  a  second  Quixote,  to 
war  against  peaceable  travellers,  and  good  subjects  of  his  ma- 
jesty's realm:  and  they  were  not  a  little  terrified  when  they  saw 
his  noble  rider,  armed  ca  >-a-pie,  vault  into  the  saddle.  The  dis- 
senting ministers  especially  who  had  praised  the  gentleness  of 
the  animal,  and  the  urbanity  of  his  master,  stood  aghast.  A 
general  alarm  was  excited.  Some  wise  heads  however,  who 
knew  something  of  his  lordship's  courage  and  management, 
beheld  him  not  as  an  object  of  terror,  but  compassion:  they  saw 
that  he  had  ascended  his  horse  for  the  lust  time,  and  they  fore- 
boded towards  him  nothing  but  a  disastrous  issue.  To  confirm 
these  apprehensions,  looking  down  Parliament-street,  they  be- 
held, very  near  the  place  in  which  his  lordship  meant  to  make 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  335 

of  the  third  William  had  bequeathed  to  the  dissen- 
ters. Several  pages  of  his  narrative  are  employed  in 
stating  the  design  of  the  bill  in  question,  and  the 
subsequent  extension  of  the  toleration  by  the  zealous 
and  persevering;  efforts  of  the  committee  of  the 
Protestant  Society,  and  the  deputies  appointed  by 
the  churches  in  and  about  London,  to  watch  over 
and  to  protect  their  liberties. 

The  noble  sentiments  in  favour  of  universal  reli- 
gious freedom  whigfeMvere  eloquently  uttered  in  the 
House  of  Peers,  during  the  debate  which  led  to  the 
rejection  of  Lord  Sidmouth's  measure,  made  a  due 
impression  on  the  public  mind;  and  instead  of  an 
infringement,  of  our  rights,  our  privileges  were  in- 
creased. As  he  is  now  in  a  world  where  the  ap- 
plause or  the  censure  of  mankind  cannot  reach  him, 
I  feel  myself  impelled  to  pay  a  passing  tribute  to 
the  late  Earl  Stanhope,  for  his  zealous -and  manly 
efforts  in  this  great  cause.  The  following  letter,  ad- 

his  first  attack,  a  tremendous  flood;  a  flood  which  overwhelmed 
the  House  of  Lords.  The  noble  Viscount  indeed  seemed  undis- 
mayed, he.  had  dreamed  of  victory.  He  had  the  prayers  of  nearly 
the  whole  bench  of  Bishops,  and  all  the  intolerant  spirits  in  the 
kingdom  wished  him  •  God  speed!'  With  such  a  horse,  with 
such  a  host  of  friends,  what  did  he  care  about  a  flood.  Just  as 
he  was  rushing  in,  expecting  his  right  reverend  brethren  to  fol- 
low him,  lie  was  amazed  to  find  himself  alone.  There  was  not 
one  voice  to  cheer  him.  The  waves  rose  tumultuously  around 
him.  By  a  kind  of  fatality  he  went  forward,  possessing  a  wonder- 
ful facility  at  sinking — he  sank  like  lead,  in  the  mighty  waters. 
Now  there  was  something  glorious  in  this,  my  beloved  " 

Cater  a  desunt. 
It  is  supposed  the  black-faced  orator,  was  suddenly  called  t<3> 
extinguish  the  fire  of  some  neighbouring  chimney. 


336  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

dressed  by  him  to  the  Secretaries  of  the  Protestant 
Society,  in  answer  to  a  vote  of  thanks  from  that 
body,  is  his  best  eulogy,  and  I  therefore  feel  great 
pleasure  in  presenting  it  to  my  readers. 

"Berner's  Street,  May  29,  1811. 

"  Gentlemen, — I  beg  you  will  do  me  the  favour 
to  return  my  best  thanks  to  Mr.  Mills  and  the  gen- 
tlemen who  attended  the  General  Meeting  of  Pro- 
testant Dissenters,  and  other  friends  to  religious 
liberty,  at  the  London  Tavern,  Bishopsgate  Street, 
on  Friday,  the  24th  instant,  for  the  very  kind  and 
favourable  manner  in  which  they  have,  through  you, 
gentlemen,  been  pleased  to  express  their  approba- 
tion of  my  conduct,  with  respect  to  the  opposition 
that  I  gave  to  Lord  Sidmouth's  bill. 

44 1,  however,  do  not  feel  that  I  deserve  those 
thanks;  for,  I  have  simply  done  my  duty,  by  op- 
posing it  in  that  House  where  I  have  been  placed 
by  the  mere  accident  of  birth.  But  those  men  do 
truly  deserve  the  thanks  and  the  gratitude  of  the 
public,  by  whose  activity  and  well-timed  exertions, 
so  many  hundreds  of  Petitions,  thus  respectably  and 
numerously  signed,  were  procured  against  that  mea- 
sure, in  so  very  short  a  space  of  time.  Unwise  as 
the  Bill  was,  it  has  been  most  salutary;  inasmuch  as 
it  has  convinced  all  mankind,  that  the  friends  to  li- 
berty of  conscience  are  determined  to  lay  aside  all 
difference  of  opinion,  and  to  make  one  glorious 
common  cause,  whenever  the  defence  of  their  rights 
or  religious  liberty,  shall  require  it. 

44  Stimulated  by  those  principles  of  justice  which 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  337 

have  uniformly  actuated  my  conduct,  I  shall  con- 
tinue to  defend  the  unalienable  right  of  human  na- 
ture, with  respect  to  private  judgment  in  matters  of 
religion;  and  as  a  member  of  Parliament,  I  never 
shall  condescend  to  solicit  from  any  6et  of  men  V* 
power,  as  a  favour,  that  which  I  ever  have  held, 
and  which  I  ever  shall  hold,  as  a  right  to  be  enjoyed 
by  every  man,  the  most  valuable  right,  which  he 
has  received  from  that  Being  infinitely  high, 
by  whom  he  was  created,  and  by  whose  providence 
he  is  hourly  preserved. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Gentlemen, 
"  Your  faithful  servant, 

M  Stanhope." 

41  To  Mr.  Thomas  Pellatt,  and 
Mr.  John  Wilks." 

Mr.  BucFs  next  publication  was  occasioned  by 
an  event  as  mysterious  as  it  was  affecting — the  death 
of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Spencer,  of  Liverpool.  It  was 
the  lot  of  Mr.  Spencer  to  attain  a  degree  of  cele- 
brity altogether  unprecedented  in  the  annals  of  that 
class  of  ministers  to  which  he  belonged.  The  bar- 
riers of  party  were  broken  down  before  him,  and 
churchmen  and  dissenters  concurred  to  express 
their  admiration  of  his  talents,  and  were  happy  to 
avail  themselves  of  his  instructions.  He  equally 
delighted  the  polished  and  the  rude,  the  learned  and 
the  illiterate,  the  aged  and  the  young.  Every  rank 
seemed  to  consider  him  as  its  own  appropriate 
preacher,  and  the  greatest  wonder  of  all  is,  when 
kis  popularity  was  at  its  zenith,  he  was  only  twenty 

2  F 


S'38  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

years  of  age.  Never  was  a  career  so  brilliant,  and 
at  the  same  time  so  useful.  Alas!  that  it  should 
have  been  so  short.  Six  months  after  the  above 
period,  he  was  suddenly  removed  from  the  world. 
This  unexpected  and  calamitous  event  produced 
"  a  shock  approaching  to  consternation,"  not  only 
in  Liverpool,  the  immediate  sphere  of  his  labours, 
but  in  the  metropolis,  and  in  many  other  parts  of 
England.  Numerous  sermons  were  preached 
throughout  the  country  to  embalm  his  memory, 
and  improve  his  death.  The  inimitable  lines  of 
Virgil  on  Marcellus  were  never  more  happily  ap- 
plied than  to  this  admirable  youth,  so  beloved  in 
life,  so  lamented  in  death.  The  work  of  Mr.  Buck 
takes  advantage  of  his  station,  his  popularity,  and 
his  dissolution,  to  impress  some  of  the  most  alarm- 
ing and  solemn  subjects  upon  the  hearts  of  his 
readers.  It  is  entitled  Serious  Enquiries;  or  im- 
portant Questions  relative  to  this  World  and  that 
which  is  to  come;  to  which  are  added,  Reflections 
on  Mortality,  occasioned  by  the  death  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Spencer,  &c.  Of  this  performance  the  re- 
view of  the  Evangelical  Magazine  observes,  M  Mr. 
Buck's  former  publications  were  addressed  chiefly 
to  the  religiqus  world;  he  has  now  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  careless  and  impenitent.  The  work  is 
enlivened  by  anecdotes  and  sentences  from  the 
writings  of  wise  and  good  men.  We  hope  it  will 
prove  acceptable  and  useful,  especially  to  the  rising 
generation." 

In  the  year  1812  commenced  that  illness,  which 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  339 

with  a  few  temporary  interruptions,  issued  in  Mr. 
B's  dissolution:  when  under  its  immediate  influence, 
he  thus  wrote  to  a  family  of  his  friends: 

No.  LIV. 
"  Primrose  Street,  London,  July  30,  1812, 
u  My  dear  friends — Though  I  am  scarcely  able 
to  hold  my  pen,  I  do  not  like  to  let  yours  lie  unan- 
swered.   I  am  glad  to  hear  Mr.  O.  is  better.    Hope 
the  air  will  be  useful.   I  am  sorry  to  inform  you   I 
gain  no  ground,  t>ut  am  still  without  appetite  and 
without  strength.    Mr.    Parkinson    has   called  in  a 
physician,  Dr.  Pett,  who  seems  to  be  a  clever  man; 
he  has  ordered  a  new  system  of  medicine;  and  at 
the  same  time  gives  me  little  hopes,  unless:  a  system 
of  relaxation  and  exercise,  on  horseback,  &c.  can  be 
adopted.    This   morning  I  left  Shacklewell,  by  the 
advice  of  the  doctor,  on  account  of  the  paint.    The 
weather  too  has  been  so  very  wet,  that  I  have  hard- 
ly been  able  to  peep  out.  Never  did  I  know  a  July 
so  wet  and  so  cold;   I  am  glad  to  get  to  the  fire,  as 
if  it  were  a  cold  frosty  day  in  whiter:  I  cannot  keep 
myself   warm.    This  has  been  a  long  affliction  to 
me,    on  many  accounts,   nor   is  there   any  prospect 
at  present  of  its  removal.   But  what  have   I  to  do 
but  to  be  patient.   It  is  less  than  I  deserve.  I  have 
however,  preached  one  sermon  since  you  have  been 
away,  which  I  hope  and  trust  was  edifying;  at  least 
I  am  sure  it  was  comfortable,  though  with  many 
tears! — What,  preach  say  you,  under  all  this  indis- 
position? Yes,  and  I  hope  I  shall  never  forget  it! 


34b  MEMOIRS  OF  THfi* 

But  where  do  you  think  it  was?  and  who  the  con- 
gregation? I  will  tell  you.  It  was  in  bed;  and  my- 
self only  the  hearer.  I  have  since  committed  as 
much  of  it  as  I  could  to  paper;  but  it  was  truly 
beneficial  to  the  whole  of  the  congregation.  So,  in 
the  midst  of  our  deep  waters,  some  manifestations 
are  afforded  by  our  gracious  Lord.  Indeed,  afflic- 
tion is  the  time  of  communion,  of  prayer,  of  depen- 
dence, and  of  instruction  too.  When  God  is  pleased 
to  sanctify  it  to  his  people,  then  O  how  profitable. 
But  this  is  what  I  want;  I  want  not  to  be  without 
affliction,  if  it  be  God's  will;  but  I  want  to  feel  a 
sweet  spirit  of  resignation  under  it,  attended  with 
a  clear  view  of  a  saving  interest  in  the  Redeemer. 
When  this  is  once  obtained,  then  welcome  life,  wel- 
come death,  all  is  well.  However,  we  must  wait, 
till  the  promise  be  fulfilled.  That  you  my  dear 
friends  may  enjoy  the  Divine  presence,  in  an  abun- 
dant degree,  is  the  most  sincere  prayer  of 

"  Your's,  very  affectionately, 

"  C.  Buck.'* 

*'  Excuse  my  scrawl,  for  I  am  very  unwell." 

Notwithstanding  his  painful  and  lingering  indis 
position,  he  was  not  laid  aside  from  his  beloved 
employment  of  preaching;  nor  was  he  idle  with  his 
pen;  for  he,  prepared  and  published  a  Memoir  of 
the  Life  and  Death  of  Mr.  Thomas  Atkins.  With 
this  pious  individual  he  had  maintained  a  long  and 
intimate  friendship,  and  was  therefore  well  quali- 
fied to  write  the  narrative  of  his  eventful  life. 


REV.  CHARLES   BUCK.  341 

The  following  letter  was  written  from  Margate, 
and  is  dated  June  18,  1812. 

No.  LV. 

"  My  dear  Friends — Through  mercy  we  arrived 
safe  at  Margate  on  Saturday  evening,  about  ten 
o'clock,  but  the  journey  was  too  much  for  me,  and 
rendered  me  much  worse  than  before.  The  first  two 
nights  I  had  scarcely  any  sleep  at  all,  and  my  fever 
now  seems  but  little  abated;  and  as  yet  little  or  no 
appetite,  though  I  sleep  a  little  better.  Of  course  I 
did  not  preach  on  Sabbath-day,  though  requested. 
We  heard  Mr.  Atkinson  in  the  morning,  from 
1  Pet.  v.  last  part  of  12th  verse,  and  in  the  evening 
Mr.  Young,  at  Lady  Huntingdon's,  from  Heb.  x. 
19,  20.;  both  good  discourses,  and  the  places  well 
attended. 

"  So  here  we  are  comfortable  enough  as  to  resi- 
dence and  society;  but  (Ah,  this  but;  well,  there 
must  be  a  but  in  every  thing)  how  little  enjoyment 
is  there,  where  appetite  is  gone  and  languor  and 
pain  pervade.  But  wherefore  should  a  living  man 
complain?  We  are  not  dealt  with  as  we  deserve! 
How  might  this  life  be  embittered  to  us  by  ten 
thousand  greater  evils,  and  we  at  last  be  cut  down 
as  cumberers  of  the  ground.  I  know  not  how  you 
feel,  but  I  am  utterly  confounded  and  ashamed  at 
my  own  want  of  feeling.  Naturally  susceptible,  as 
it  regards  all  other  things,  but  in  spirituals  how 
little  affected,  compared  with  their  importance  and 
excellency.  I  see,  my  dear  friends,  it  may  be  easy 
to  write  books,  preach  sermons,  h«ld  meetings,  &c* 
2F2 


342  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

but  to  carry  a  savour  of  divine   things  about  with 
us;  to  have   the  mind  pervaded   and   absorbed   in 
them;  to  be  losing  sight  of  the  world;  to  be  divest- 
ed of  personal  and   domestic  anxiety,  and  to  have 
the  affections   constantly  set  above,  this  is  not  so 
easy!  Yet  how  can    we    call  ourselves   Christians, 
without  something  of  this?  There  is  a  sort  of  me- 
chanical religion  which  some  people  have;  which,  as 
long  as  certain  pins  and  wheels  are  kept  in  their  place, 
seems  to  go  on  very  well;   but  if  any  of  these  are 
lost,  it  stops,  or  at  least  proceeds  very  irregularly. 
Now  you  must   know,  I  am   very  much  afraid  of 
this    mechanical  system;  and  want  something  (as 
you  know  our  brother  said)  to  go  against  wind  and 
tide.  a  Thou  shalt  choose  mine  inheritance  for  me," 
is  the  lesson  I  want  to  iearn.   But  why  should  I  fill 
Up  my  letter  in  writing  about  myself,  unless  I  could 
give  you   some  better  intelligence?     Well,    I    will 
have  done. — We  hope   Mr.  O.  as  the  season  ad- 
vances, finds  an  increase  of  health.  Were  it  not  for 
that  garden  at  Shacklewell,  and  for  the  patterns  and 
flowers  at  Shoreditch,  we  should  say,  come   down 
immediately;  but  as  to  this,  we  suppose  there  is  no 
prospect.  Hope  all  goes  on  well  at  Chapel,  and  that 
the  supplies  are  acceptable.  Pray  present  our  kind 
regards  to  all  the  enquiring  friends,  and  hope  we 
shall  have   an   interest  in  their   supplications  at  a 
throne  of  grace.  Wishing  you  much  of  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  Divine  blessing,  we  remain, 

"  Your's,  very  affectionately, 

«  C.  Buck." 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  343 

"  Mrs.  B.  will  be  glad  if  Mrs.  Owen  will  see  if 
all  is  well  at  Primrose  Street.  We  hope  to  hear 
from  you  soon." 

The  year  1813  found  Mr.   Buck  in  a  very  deli- 
cate state  of  health,  which   he  endeavoured  to  re- 
cruit by  excursions  into  the  country.  The  writer  of 
these  pages,    meeting  him  one  day,  remarked  the 
evident  indisposition  under  which  he  laboured:  nor 
can  he  ever  forget  the  affectionate  earnestness  with 
which  he  replied,  by  entreating  him  to  work  while 
it  is  dav,  to  improve  his  time  and  his  talents,  and 
especially  to  write  and  publish  treatises  on  religion. 
Little  did  he  then  imagine,  that  it  would  fall  to  his 
lot  to  draw  up  this  memorial  of  his  friend's  labours 
and  virtues.  To  the  Rev.  John  Hyatt,  Mr.  B.  ob- 
served, when  he  was  exceedingly  ill,  "  /am  falling 
a  martyr  to  the  pen;  yon  will   be  a  martyr  to  the 
pulpit."   The    one    prediction    was    realized;    the 
prayers  of  thousands  will  earnestly  deprecate  the 
fulfilment  of  the  other.   Preachers  of  Mr.  Hyatt's 
powers,  to  excite  religious  feeling  through  vast  con- 
gregations, and  with  his  unabated  zeal  in  employing 
those  powers  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  salvation 
of  souls,  are  not  the  growth  of  every  day. 

Notwithstanding  his  heavy  and  long-protracted 
affliction,  Mr.  Buck  this  year  prepared  and  issued 
from  the  press  his  Practical  Expositor,  the  last,  but 
not  the  least  interesting  of  his  works.  "  The  inten- 
tion of  the  author  (says  the  Eclectic  Review)  in 
this  work,  was  to  form  a  practical  exposition  of  va- 
rious passages  of  Scripture,  which  should,  at  the 


344  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

same  time,  comprize  an  interesting  mass  of  biogra- 
phical and  historical  information.  So  far  as  it  con- 
sists of  anecdote,  we  think  the  volume  singularly 
unexceptionable.  It  is  free  from  the  objections 
which  lie  against  religious  story-telling  in  general, 
and  is  obviously  of  a  useful  tendency." 

To  Woburn,  in  Bedfordshire,  Mr.  B.  retired  for 
a  few  weeks,  with  a  view  to  relax  his  public  la- 
bours, and  thus  to  recruit  his  strength.  From  this 
retreat  he  wrote  the  following  letters  to  his  friends 
in  town: 

No.  LVI. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  written  at  Woburn,  July  30, 
1813. 

"  Have  you  heard  from  Mr.  Buck  since  he  has 
been  gone?  methinks  is  the  enquiry  of  some;  to 
which  you  will  now  be  able  to  answer,  Yes.  Well, 
how  is  he?  Why  he  says,  that  on  the  whole  he  is 
better  as  to  his  appetite  (meat  excepted),  but  that 
one  of  his  feet  is  exceeding  painful,  that  he  is  un- 
able to  stand  upon  it;  that  he  is  comfortably  situat- 
ed enough  with  his  friend  Castleden;  and  that 
having  taken  a  little  work  with  him,  he  employs 
himself  as  usual  when  confined  within;  that  since 
he  has  been  here  the  weather  has  been  wet,  and  con- 
tinues unsettled;  that  he  preached  for  Mr.  C.  Sab- 
bath morning,  on  a  subject  not  long  since  taken  at 
the  City  Chapel  from  that  text,  1  John  v.  4.;  that 
he  rested  in  the  afternoon,  and  was  taken  in  a  chaise 
to  a  village  about  three  miles  distant,  and  preached' 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  345 

to  a  full  congregation  from  an  old  text,  Job  xv.  11., 
and  returned  to  Woburn  the  same  evening,  very 
much  tired;  that  his  foot  burns,  looks  very  red,  and 
prevents  his  taking  that  rest  he  could  wish;  that 
some  of  his  friends  are  prescribing  one  thing,  and 
some  another,  while  others  wish  to  call  in  the  aid 
of  a  surgeon,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  set  him  up- 
right; that  he  does  not  seem  willing  to  employ  a 
strange  doctor,  lest  he  should  make  some  mistake, 
and  by  making  an  incision,  confine  Mr.  B.  in  his 
chair  at  Woburn  altogether;  that  at  present  he 
scarcely  knows  what  to  do,  but  that  he  wishes  to 
wait  with  patience  till  relief  shall  be  afforded;  that 
he  knows  he  deserves  a  much  heavier  affliction;  and 
that  it  is  necessary,  for  wise  ends,  that  he  should 
so  long  be  continued  in  the  furnace;  that  he  feels 
much  grief  that  he  profits  so  little  by  afflictive 
events;  that  he  can  preach  to  others  on  the  promises 
of  support,  and  that  he  does  not  always  enjoy  him- 
self what  he  could  desire,  yet  with  all  his  unworthi- 
ness  he  feels  thankful  in  hearing  of  fresh  instan- 
ces of  good  being  done,  by  what  he  has  been  ena- 
bled to  send  into  the  world,  and  that  this  encourages 
him  to  persevere,  however  some  may  think  he  has 
done  enough;  that  if  spared,  and  able  to  stand,  he 
thinks  of  preaching  at  Woburn  next  Sabbath;  and, 
after  all,  he  likes  his  own  people  best,  and  likes  to 
preach  to  them  better  than  to  any  other;  that  he 
hopes  to  have  an  interest  in  their  prayers,  and  that 
he  desires  his  kind  regards  to  them*" 


346  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

No.  LV1I. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R. 

"  Woburn,  Beds.  1813. 
"  Dear  Friends— I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you 
for  your  kind  epistle,  and  your  good  wishes  express- 
ed therein.  Though  I  am  somewhat  better  on  the 
whole,  yet  I  am  far  from  being  well.  My  legs  are 
in  a  very  bad  state,  very  sore  and  painful,  and  am 
still  blind  with  my  left  eye,  I  have  neither  been  out 
nor  preached  once  since  I  have  been  here.  I  find 
that  winter  is  not  a  pleasant  time  to  be  in  the  couif- 
try,  and  especially  when  one  is  not  able  to  move 
about;  all  seems  dreary  and  dull.  I  hope  soon, 
therefore,  to  be  in  town.  I  am  exceedingly  obliged 
to  our  friends  for  their  prayers,  and  for  the  kind- 
ness they  have  expressed;  and  I  cannot  but  greatly 
feel  the  attention  and  affection  of  my  brethren  in 
the  ministry.  It  is  more  than  I  deserve,  and  more 
than  I  expected.  It  is  painful  to  me  to  be  debarred 
from  my  public  work;  I  long  to  resume  it.  The 
study  has  long  been  my  habitation,  and  the  pulpit 
my  throne;  but  affliction  has  interrupted  me  in  both. 
The  will  of  the  Lord,  however,  must  be  done.  The 
furnace  is  necessary  for  God's  ministers  as  well  as 
for  hearers;  and  I  am  certain  it  is  for  me,  but  I 
want  practice  to  endure.  I  find  it  very  different  to 
preach,  write,  and  converse  about  it,  than  it  is  to 
exercise  it.  O!  that  He  who  is  the  Giver  of  every 
good  gift,  may  give  strength  according  to  the  day. 
"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  found  Mr.   S.'s  sermon 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  347 

profitable.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  be  stirred  up  to  ex- 
amine our  evidences;  for,  alas!  the  things  of  this 
world,  the  cares  of  this  life,  too  often  darken  them; 
but  what  an  infinite  mercy  it  is,  that  our  God  does 
not  lay  judgment  to  the  line,  nor  righteousness  to 
the  plummet,  that  he  knoweth  our  frames,  and  re- 
members that  we  are  but  dust.  I  should  despair,  if  I 
were  not  assured  that  he  does  not  break  the  bruised 
reed,  nor  quench  the  smoking  flax.  This  we  know, 
that  even  if  we  have  been  deceived,  he  hath  said, 
'Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast 
out.'  Let  us  then,  like  Jonah,  look  again,  that  he 
may  be  merciful  and  gracious  unto  us. 

"  You  say,  in  your  letter,  and  justly  too,  that  this 
is  a  world  of  trouble.  Every  body  must  feel  some- 
thing, and  yet  if  we  look  around,  we  shall  find  many 
worse  than  ourselves. 

"On  Tuesday  last  a  Mrs.  D.  (wife  of  an  attor^ 
ney  in  this  place)  a  fine  woman,  in  attempting  to 
hang  up  a  picture,  her  clothes  caught  fire,  and  was 
burnt  to  death*  So  we  see,  that  in  the  midst  of  life 
we  are  in  death.  Happy  are  they  who,  in  the  hour 
of  adversity  and  of  death,  can  repose  their  confi- 
dence in  God,  and  leave  all  to  him.  That  this  may 
be  your  privilege,  is  the  most  earnest  prayer  of 
"  Your's  most  affectionately, 

"  C.  Buck." 

"  N.  B.  — I  hope  the  children  are  all  well.  I  am  glad 
Mr.  G.  is  better,  and  that  his  mind  is  so  resigned, 
however  it  may  terminate." 


348  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

No.  LVIII. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A. 

"  Woburn,  Beds.  Dec.  6,  1813. 

"  Dear  Friends — Your  kind  and  frequent  tokens 
•of  benevolence  and  regard  call  for  some  expressions 
of  acknowledgment  and  gratitude.  What  can  I  say, 
but  that  you  have  my  most  ardent  wishes  for  your 
happiness,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  and  that  the 
God  of  heaven  may  return  to  you  a  thousand  fold, 
for  every  instance  of  liberality  in  his  cause. 

M  You  will  no  doubt  be  anxious  to  know  how  I 
am;  as  when  last  at  your  house  I  was  greatly  alarm- 
ed by  a  violent  palpitation  at  the  heart.  I  bore  the 
journey,  through  mercy,  better  than  I  expected. 
Since  I  have  been  here,  my  appetite  has  been  much 
better,  my  pain  in  the  stomach  lessened,  and  no  re- 
turn of  the  palpitation;  but  my  legs  are  much  worse, 
my  eye  nearly  the  same,  and  I  have  but  little  sleep. 
The  doctor  attends  me  constantly,  and  I  have  plen- 
ty of  that  medicine  he  thinks  suitable,  so  that  I 
think  I  can  say  I  am  better  on  the  whole.  The  wea- 
ther has  been  so  bad,  that  I  have  not  been  out  once 
since  I  have  been  here,  nor  even  so  much  as  thought 
of  preaching.  These  silent  Sabbaths  try  m«  much; 
I  am  out  of  my  element;  but  the  will  of  the  Lord 
be  done.  Ministers  must  have  a  time  for  suffering, 
as  well  as  for  preaching.  I  know  all  is  right,  though 
the  dispensation  is  painfuL  I  want,  however,  like 
many  others,  to  exercise  a  greater  degree  of  faith, 
and  to  manifest  a  spirit  of  resignation  to  the  will  of 
him  who  doth  all  things  well.  For  I  cannot  divest 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  349 

myself  of  those  anxieties  which  becloud  the  mind 
on  the  thoughts  of  mortality,  of  leaving  tender  con- 
nexions and  a  beloved  family,  as  well  as  the  church. 
Yet  how  wrong  is  this,  since  strength  is  promised 
according  to  the  day.  But  how  easy  to  talk,  how 
hard  to  practise. 

"  But  horvever  it  is  with  me,  let  me  rejoice  in  the 
thought  that  it  is  well  with  you — Blessed  in  this 
world,  and  looking  forward  with  joy  to  that  which 
is  to  come.  Some  go  through  life  on  their  hands  and 
knees,  while  others  are  lifted  up  by  a  kind  Provi- 
dence, and  carried  safely  and  comfortably  through. 
After  all,  however,  it  is  communion  with  God  that 
makes  life  sweet,  whatever  be  the  external  condi- 
tion. Favoured  with  this,  none  can  make  us  mise- 
rable; destitute  of  it  none  can  make  us  happy.  That 
you  both  may  enjoy  this  inestimable  blessing  in  an 
eminent  degree,  is  the  most  sincere  prayer  of 
"  Your's  most  affectionately, 

"  Chas.  Buck." 


No.  LIX. 

"  At  Mr.  Castleden's,  Woburn,  Beds. 
Dec.  14,  1813. 

«  My  dear  Friend — It  is  with  very  great  plea- 
sure I  hear  that  you  are  better.  I  have  been  a  bro- 
ther companion  with  you  in  tribulation,  often  think- 
ing I  was  on  the  borders  of  eternity;  through  mercy 
I  feel  somewhat  restored,  except  that  my  blindness 
yet  remains,  and  my  feet  are  in  a  very  bad  state, 
being  swelled,  sore,  and  exceedingly  painful.  It  is 
2  G 


350  MEMOIRS   OF  THE 

near  five  weeks  since  I  preached,  nor  have  I  been 
out  once  since  I  have  been  here.  [  long  to  be  at  my 
work  again,  should  it  be  the  will  of  God,  but  his 
will  be  done.  We  are  not  our  own,  but  his,  and  he 
has  a  right  to  do  as  he  pleases  with  us.  He  can  get 
glory  by  our  sufferings  as  well  as  by  our  services. 
He  shows  us  too  how  easily  he  can  do  without  us; 
that  he  can  carry  on  his  work  without  being  indebt- 
ed to  us.  But  how  necessary  are  these  afflictions;  we 
cannot  indeed  do  well  without  them,  and  it  is  a 
pleasant  reflection,  that  they  are  no  marks  of  dis- 
pleasure, but  of  love;  for  whom  the  Lord  loveth 
he  chasteneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he 
receiveth.  How  many  have  had  reason  to  reckon 
their  sanctified  afflictions  among  their  mercies.  And 
shall  not  we,  my  dear  friend,  if  spared,  have  to  say, 
The  Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  us?  An  old 
author  says,  we  are  something  like  the  ball,  the 
harder  it  is  beat  down,  the  higher  it  rises;  so  we, 
the  harder  we  are  beat  down  by  affliction,  the  high- 
er we  shall  bound  in  affection  towards  heavenly 
things.  And  blessed  be  God  for  that  affliction  which 
has  this  effect;  which  deadens  us  to  the  world, 
which  crucifies  our  vain  desires,  and  elevates  our 
minds  to  a  better  world.  I  am  very  happy  to  hear 
that  you  have  been  so  supported;  that  God  has  been 
so  merciful  to  you  in  the  time  of  your  trouble.  Now 
have  you  had  a  fresh  proof  of  the  reality  of  the  re- 
ligion of  Jesus;  now  have  you  found  the  truth  and 
sweetness  of  the  sacred  promises,  and  that  you  have 
not  followed  a  cunningly  devised  fable.  O,  what  a 
blessing  to  have  an  interest  in  the  gospel  of  Christ4 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  351 

By  this  we  can  live,  by  this  we  can  walk  and  work, 
by  this  we  can  die.  On  what  superior  ground  do 
we  stand  than  those  who,  however  great  in  this 
world,  know  nothing  of  God.  But  to  whom  are  we 
indebted  for  all  this?  O,  let  us  never  forget  the  grace 
that  sweetly  forced  us  in.  Let  us  strike  the  cheer- 
ful notes  of  praise,  and  say,  The  Lord  hath  done 
great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad. — That 
you  may  increase  in- strength  and  abound  in  conso- 
lation is  the  earnest  prayer  of, 

"  Yours,  most  affectionately, 

«  C.  B." 

"  P.  S.  My  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Gander;  hope 
•she  has  and  will  have  strength  according  to  her  day. 
He  that  hath  delivered  can  deliver.  On  him,  there- 
fore may  her  confidence  rest,  and  her  mind  be 
stayed." 


No.  LX. 

"  Woburn,  Beds.  Dec.  20,  1813. 
c*  Dear  Friend — My  parcel,  to  my  astonishment, 
contained  no  less  than  twelve  epistles,  and  among 
the  rest,  I  found  one  from  a  certain  person  with 
whom  you  have  some  acquaintance.  I  am  very 
much  obliged  to  her  for  her  kind  condolence  with 
one  who  is  sick,  and  blind,  and  lame.  Indeed,  if 
ever  he  stood  in  need  of  sympathy  it  is  now,  and  he 
has  great  reason  to  rejoice  that  he  is  not  destitute 
of  it  from  his  dear  people.  The  hint  you  dropped 
has  for  some  time  occupied  my  attention,  and  had  I 


352  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

staid  much  longer  here  would  have  been  adopted; 
but  hope  very  shortly,  if  I  do  not  preach,  at  least  to 
show  my  face,  and  answer  inquiries  in  my  own  per- 
son. The  country,  in  winter,  I  find  not  very  favour- 
able to  invalids;  I  have  not  been  able  to  get  out  at 
all.  My  appetite  is  not  so  good  as  it  was,  and  my 
feet  are  very  bad  indeed;  but  I  must  not  complain, 
it  might  have  been  still  worse.  O!  that  I  could  but 
think  more  of  my  mercies,  and  less  of  my  trials;  I 
know  which  are  the  greatest  of  the  two.  How  many 
around  us  are  more  the  subjects  of  distress  than 
ourselves.  Last  Thursday  evening,  a  Mrs.  May,  a 
fine  woman,  and  wife  of  an  attorney  in  this  place,  in 
attempting  to  hang  up  a  picture,  her  clothes  caught 
fire,  and  she  was  burnt  to  death.  She  was  not,  it  is 
said,  even  a  professor  of  religion.  Reflecting  on 
the  case  of  others,  how  thankful  ought  we  to  be  in 
regard  to  ourselves,  however  low  our  condition. 

"  I  hope  you  will  find  the  divine  presence  in  your 
new  habitation.  Make  it  a  place  of  prayer,  and  then 
I  am  sure  that  will  be  the  case.  Cares,  and  troubles, 
and  wants  will  be  found  at  Hoxton  as  well  as  at 
Gravesend;  but  an  attention  to  Philippians,  iv.  6,  F. 
will  bring  through  all.  That  the  blessing  of  the 
Most  High  may  be  enjoyed  continually  by  you,  is 
the  sincere  prayer  of, 

"  Yours,  most  affectionately, 

"C.  B." 
"  Forgive  my  trembling  hand,  for  I  am  but  weak. 
I  directed  this  to  Mr.  Owen,  not  knowing  how  to 
direct  for  you  at  Hoxton.   Mr.  and  Mrs.  Castleden 
beg  me  to  present  their  kind  respects  to  you.'' 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  $53 


at  least  none  that  can  interest  the  reader.  He  was 
engaged  in  revising  and  publishing  new  editions  of 
some  of  his  Works.  He  took  several  journies,  and 
wherever  he  went,  and  his  health  would  permit,  he 
sowed  the  good  seed  of  the  kingdom.  Arriving  at 
Brighton,  in  the  month  of  August,  the  author 
earnestly  requested  him  to  preach,  but  he  reluc- 
tantly declined,  saying  that  his  medical  friends  had 
absolutely  forbidden  him.  He  was  therefore  a  hearer. 
The  subject  was  derived  from  those  words  of  the 
apostle  Paul,  "  No  afflictions  at  the  time  are  joyous, 
but  grievous;  yet  afterwards  they  yield  the  peace- 
able fruits  of  righteousness."  After  the  service,  he 
expressed  himself  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  doc- 
trine of  the  text,  and  the  solemn  and  plain  man- 
ner in  which  it  was  treated,  and  urged  the  preacher 
to  persevere  in  the  good  work.  It  was  the  last  time 
I  saw  him. 

The  tidings  which  reached  me  the  following  year 
were,  that  Mr.  B.  was  dangerously  ill,  that  little  or 
no  hope  was  entertained  of  his  recovery.  He  was 
seized  with  this  affliction  on  the  7th  of  April,  and 
on  the  8th  of  May  was  confined  to  that  bed  from 
which  he  was  never  to  rise  again.  His  last  sermon 
to  the  people  of  his  charge  was  preached  on  Tues- 
day evening,  April  4,  from  Heb.  iv.  1.  "  Let  us 
therefore  fear,  lest  a  promise  being  left  us  of  enter- 
ing into  his  rest,  any  of  you  should  seem  to  come 
short  of  it."  And  his  last  sermon  in  this  world 
was  delivered  at  Kennington  Chapel,  on  the  follow- 
ing evening,  from  2  Cor.  i.  7.  "  And  our  hope  of 
2  G  2 


354  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

you  is  stedfast,  knowing  that  as  you  are  partakers 
of  the  sufferings,  so  shall  ye  be  also  of  the  consola- 
tion." 

However  diligently  and  wisely  Mr.  Buck  dis- 
charged the  active  duties  of  his  station,  and  no  man 
ever  exhibited  a  steadier  or  a  brighter  example  of 
uniform  excellence,  his  last  scene  of  patient  suffer- 
ing and  holy  resignation  to  the  divine  will,  reflected 
the  highest  honour  on  his  principles,  and  produced 
the  deepest  impressions  on  the  hearts  of  his  friends. 


;  Nothing  in  his  life 


Became  hirn  like  the  leaving-  it;  he  died 
As  one  that  had  been  studied  in  his  death." 

To  those  around  him  he  observed,  with  a  sweet 
composure  of  mind,  and  a  heavenly  smile  on  his 
countenance,  "  Let  us  rejoice  in  Christ,  he  has  done 
all  things  well,  we  shall  only  part  for  a  little  season, 
and  the  grand  theme  of  our  souls  will  be,  '  Not  un- 
to us.'  Yes,  our  wonder  will  be  through  all  eternity 
that  he  loved  us."  Mrs.  Buck  observing  to  him  that 
the  past  Sabbath  was  the  ordinance  of  the   Lord's 
Supper,  with  strong  emotion  he  replied,  "  We  shall 
sit  down  together  at  the   marriage    supper  of  the 
Lamb  to  part  no  more."  Oh!  what  a  blessed  hope. 
To  some  present  he  said,  he  himself  had  been  witness 
of  many  death-beds  of  saints,  on  which  they  have 
often  said,  "  Is  this  dying?"  I  now  myself  experi- 
ence that  Jesus  can  make  a  dying  bed  as  soft  as 
downy  pillows  are.  Some  one  observing  to  him  what 
a  mercy  it  was  he  knew  and  felt  his  interest  in. 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  355 

Christ;  with  ecstasy  he  exclaimed,  "  O!  yes,  I  do 
feel  that  Christ  is  precious  to  my  soul;  yes,  this  is 
our  mercy,  Christ  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and 
for  ever."  With  much  rapturous  joy  of  soul  he  said, 
"  Eternity  will  be  unfolding  the  mysteries  of  his 
grand  and  divine  purpose  of  love  and  mercy  in  the 
saving  of  man,  and  his  display  of  the  divine  God- 
head. Oh!  how  sweet,  divinely  sweet,  when  we  can 
say,  '  It  is  not  left  to  chance,  but  Divine  Provi- 
dence.' "  One  observing  that  he  would  soon  meet 
those  whom  he  loved,  and  worshipped  with  while 
on  earth,  "  Ah!  (said  he)  to  see  our  friends  there 
will  be  a  happiness,  but  Oh!  to  find  ourselves  safely 
arrived  in  those  blest  regions — glorious  thought! 

"  Sin,  my  worst  enemy  before, 

Shall  vex  my  eyes  and  ears  no  more." 

"  Oh!  what  a  great  and  glorious  salvation! — Sin- 
ner saved  by  sovereign  grace."   A  friend  standing 
by,  mentioning  to  him  a  person  about  to  join  the 
church  at  Grub  Street,  and  that  his  writings  had 
been  a  great  means  of  bringing  him  to  God,  Mr. 
B.  remarked,  "  If  it  be  so  delightful  to  hear  of  souls 
being  brought  to  Jesus  here  below,  what  will  it  be 
to  behold  them   as   jewels  in  our    crown   above." 
Unto  his  friends  around  him,  he  observed,  "  What 
a  great  thing  it  was  to  bear  a  testimony  unto  those 
truths,  which  he  had  been  preaching  unto  others; 
this  I  now  feel,  blessed  be  God."  To  his  son  Samuel 
he  said,  looking  stedfastly  at  him,  "  He  hoped  he 
would  know  and  serve  Samuel's  God;  that,"  said  he, 
addressing   him,  "  will  be  your  honour  and  your 


356  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

glory."  Another  time  he  observed,  speaking  of  the 
affliction  of  the  church  in  being  deprived  of  its 
minister,  that  he  hoped  and  trusted  it  would  be 
much  in  prayer  for  the  cause  of  God,  for  if  the 
Lord  took  one  of  his  creatures,  and  more  especially 
his  ministers,  it  was  for  the  promotion  of  his  glory, 
and  the  accomplishment  of  his  grand  designs. 

To  those  near  him  he  spoke  very  largely  on  the 
blessing  which  attends  those  who  make  religion 
their  early  choice;  he  spoke  here  of  his  own  ex- 
perience, and  said  he  never  knew  happiness  till  he 
found  Christ  to  be  his  Saviour.  He  exhorted  them 
to  persevere  in  the  use  of  those  means,  which  would, 
by  the  blessing  of  the  Almighty,  establish  them  in 
grace,  and  in  every  good  word  and  work,  and  par- 
ticularly recommended  frequent  attendance  at  the 
mercy-seat,  "  for  (said  he)  don't  be  discouraged, 
while  you  ask  with  submission,  and  in  the  name  of  the 
Intercessor,  but  come  again  and  again,  and  you  will 
find  such  sweetness  attending  this  ordinance,  that  ■ 
will  resign  vour  mind  to  all  circumstances;  here 
(continued  he)  am  I,  lying  on  the  bed  of  severe 
affliction,  and  if  it  were  not  for  the  consolations 
which  the  presence  of  the  Lord  affords,  what  a 
miserable  creature  I  should  now  be;  certainly  I  have 
many  blessings,  for  which  I  desire  to  be  very  thank- 
ful; but  what  are  they  to  a  dying  man,  when  com- 
pared to  God,  to  heaven,  to  an  eternity  of  bliss? 
And  now,  my  dear  friends,  let  me  intreat  you  to 
read  your  bible  diligently;  do  not  let  trifles  prevent 
the  performance  of  this  duty;  read  a  portion  of  it 
everv  morning,  and  you  will   find  it  will  prepare 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  357 

your  minds  for  the  events  of  the  coming  day;  it 
will  preserve  your  temper,  and  will  give  you  that 
serenity,  or  as  it  is  called,  that  peace  of  mind  which 
passcth  all  understanding.  Observe  how  inconceiva- 
ble this  peace  is  as  to  expression;  and  yet,  blessed 
be  God,  it  is  that  which  is  both  known  and  felt  by 
the  Christian.  And  let  me  now  request  you  to  re- 
member these  observations,  with  the  person  who 
made  them,  when  you  read  your  bible.  1st,  Who  is 
the  Author? — God.  2d,  To  whom  is  it  sent? — To 
fallen  miserable  man.  3d,  For  what  purpose? — For 
the  salvation  of  man;  to  raise  him  from  scenes  of 
woe,  to  the  hope  of  immortal  glory. — I  have  loved 
the  bible  (said  he)  from  my  youth,  and  I  have  car- 
ried one  constantly  in  my  pocket,  ever  since  the 
age  of  twelve  years,  and  if  it  were  not  superstiti- 
ous, I  would  have  one  in  my  coffin  when  I  die. 
But  I  bless  God  that  I  have  the  hope  of  going  to 
that  place  where  the  beauties  of  the  bible  shall  be 
unveiled  in  their  fullest  glory.  I  have  always  read 
it  with  pleasure,  and  I  never  remember  perusing 
any  part  of  it  without  feeling  a  fresh  sensation  of 
gratification,  or  discovering  some  new  beauty.  My 
dear  friends,  when  you  are  in  retirement  take  your 
bible  in  your  hand,  and  pray  for  a  blessing  upon 
the  reading  of  it,  plead  earnestly  that  you  may  be 
enabled  to  feel  in  your  heart,  and  practise  in  your 
conduct  its  blessed  truths;  and  I  can  assure  you 
while  you  do  this  with  a  right  spirit,  you  will  never 
fail  in  receiving  an  abundant  blessing.  Love  God; 
seek  after  him;  delight  much  in  reading  his  word, 
and  in  supplicating  his  presence,  and  you  will  find 


358  MEMOIRS  OF   THE 

he  will  never  forsake  you,  but  will  be  ready  to  suc- 
cour you.  I  have  sought  after  him,  and  I  can  safely 
say  I  never  knew  him  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  my  pe- 
tition. 'Tis  true  he  has  laid  me  on  the  bed  of  pain 
and  languishing;  but  what  of  that?  His  presence 
makes  my  situation  easy,  and  I  would  not  part  with 
his  smiles  to  become  a  monarch.  He  has  permitted 
ine  to  speak  in  his  name,  and  I  thank  him  it  has 
not  been  in  vain.  When  I  look  back  on  my  past  life, 
I  only  regret  I  have  not  often  been  more  active  in 
the  service  of  so  good  a  Master;  and  I  would  rather 
see  my  own  children  sitting  on  a  dung-hill,  and  in 
the  enjoyment  of  God's  presence,  than  to  see  them 
exalted  to  the  highest  station,  without  his  fear  in 
their  hearts."  Mr.  B.  then  spoke  of  the  effect  which 
the  affliction  of  his  people  had  upon  his  mind,  and 
though  he  felt  regret  at  the  separation,  which  was 
about  to  take  place,  yet  he  rejoiced  greatly  in  the 
hope  of  their  joining  him  in  the  Church  above.  He 
then  assured  those  around  him  of  an  interest  in  his 
prayers,  and  again  warmly  exhorted  them  to  perse- 
vere in  their  determination  to  follow  Christ. 

During  the  few  last  days  he  was  observed  to  be 
much  in  prayer.  Those  words  of  Dr.  Watts  dwelt 
much  upon  his  mind,  and  he  frequently  recited 
them  with  much  pleasure,  in  the  hope  of  that  bliss, 
which  he  expected  hereafter  to  realize: 

"Oil!  glorious  hour,  Oil!  bless'd  abode, 
I  shall  be  near  and  like  my  God." 

Not  long  before  his  death,  he  appeared  to  have 
possessed  somewhat  more  strength  than  he  had  done 


REV.   CHARLES   BUCK.  359 

for  some  time,  and  raising  himself  up  in  his  bed,  he 
exclaimed  with  emphasis,  u  Now  I  know,  now  I 
know,"  alluding  no  doubt  to  those  words  of  St. 
Paul,  c  I  know  in  whom  I  have  believed,'  &c.  which 
a  friend  standing  by  repeated,  and  said,  "You  know 
in  whom  you  have  believed?"  to  which  he  earnestly 
replied,  "  Yes,  yes."  His  last  words  were  addressed 
to  Mrs.  Back,  in  which,  (as  is  evident)  feeling  for 
her  situation,  he  recommended  her  to  that  God,  who 
who  will  take  care  of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless; 
and  with  earnestness  and  pious  assurance,  said, 
"My  love,  grieve  not,  fret  not,  the  Lord  will  pro- 
vide" and  soon  after  bid  adieu  to  the  sorrows  of 
humanity,  exchanging  a  life  of  pain  and  affliction, 
for  a  never  ending  eternity  of  ease  and  felicity. 

This  event,  so  deeply  felt  by  his  family  and  nu- 
merous friends,  but  so  happy  to  himself,  took  place 
on  Friday,  the  1 1th  of  August,  1815.  On  the  Thurs- 
day following,  his  remains  were  conveyed  from  his 
late  residence,  in  Primrose  Street,  amidst  an  amaz- 
ing concourse  of  people,  every  where  collected  in 
the  streets  through  which  the  funeral  passed,  to  the 
City  Chapel,  attended  by  ten  ministers,  his  medical 
friend,  his  relations,  and  nearly  all  the  male  mem- 
bers of  his  church.  On  arriving  at  the  chapel,  the 
body  was  taken  in  and  placed  upon  the  communion 
table.  A  hymn  being  sung,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Castle- 
den,  of  Woburn,  read  part  of  the  15th  chapter  of 
1st  Corinthians;  after  which  Dr.  Simpson  prayed. 
The  procession  then  moved,  to  the  place  of  inter- 
ment at  Bunhill-fields.  Here  Dr.  Winter  delivered 
the  funeral   oration.    The   Rev.    Matthew    Wilks 


360  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

preached  the  funeral  sermon  on  the  evening  of  the 
following  sabbath,  to  the  bereaved  church  and  con- 
gregation, from  the  text  chosen  by  the  deceased, 
Psalm  cxvi.  7.  "  Return  unto  thy  rest,  O  my  soul: 
for  the  Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee." 


The  following'  is  the  Inscription  on  the  Tablet: 
Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

THE  REV.  CHARLES  BUCK, 

Whose  Spirit,  made  meet  for  Glory, 

Was  taken  to  Imm;  nuel's  bosom  the  11th  of  August,  1815, 

In  the  44th  year  of  his  age. 

The  Church  and  Congregation  collected  by  him,  and  which  enjoyed 
his  Ministerial  labours  for  18  years,  have  erected  this  Tablet  as  a  to- 
ken of  their  high  esteem  for  his  Character. 

"  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed.*' 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  361 


CONCLUSION. 


A  delineation  of  Mr.  Buck's  character  may  per- 
haps be  expected  from  the  pen  of  his  biographer. 
But  who  can  have  read  the  preceding  pages  without 
beholding  the  prominent  features  of  his  mind,  and 
the  distinguishing  qualities  of  his  heart?  The  gen- 
tleman who  preached  his  funeral  sermon  knew  him 
most  intimately,  and  I  shall  therefore  content  my- 
self with  quoting  his  testimony  to  the  worth  of  his 
friend. 

Mr.  Wilks  considered  the  text  which  the  deceas- 
ed had  selected  as  the  basis  of  a  funeral  discourse, 
as  in  his  own  view  admonitory  to  himself,  his  wife, 
his  children,  and  his  flock  and  in  addressing  the 
deeply  afflicted  congregation,  he  observed, 

"  1.  Was  it  necessary  that  your  dear  pastor 
should  adopt  this  language  as  admonitory  to  his 
own  heart?  of  whom  I  can  say  before  the  omniscient 
God,  that  I  knew  not  a  man  in  the  world  to  whom 
it  is  less  applicable.  The  regular  uniformity  of 
his  habits,  the  pleasing  urbanity  of  his  manners, 
the  amazing  equanimity  of  his  temper,  the  uncom- 
mon aptitude  of  his  mind  to  every  thing  spiritual, 
benevolent  and  good,  seem  almost  to  preclude  the 
possibility  of  his  admonishing  his  spirit  to  re- 
turn unto  a  God,  with  whom  he  appeared  to  live 
in  a  constant  and  happy  communion.  Yet  he  knew 
2H 


362  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

best.  Of  all  the  works  in  which  a  man  can  be  em- 
ployed, there  is  none  calculated  to  minister  so  much 
refined  pleasure  as  the  punctual  and  regular  dis- 
charge of  the  pastoral  functions,  especially  if  God 
give  that  pastor  numberless  seals  to  his  ministry, 
and  he  is  permitted  to  anticipate  meeting  them  at 
the  right  hand  of  Jesus.  Yet  there  may  be  some 
interruption  of  this  sacred,  this  exquisite  delight. 
The  fears,  the  temptation  of  his  flock,  the  troubles 
and  perhaps  restless  tempers  of  some  of  them,  tem- 
pers so  opposite  to  his  own  holy  and  peaceable 
spirit,  might  interrupt  the  full  enjoyment  of  this 
inestimable  good.  Besides,  he  was  a  man, — having 
all  the  feelings  of  human  nature.  His  reliance  upon 
and  enjoyment  of  God  may  have  been  interrupted 
by  human  and  distressing  fears,  respecting  a  widow 
and  numerous  family,  bereaved  and  unprovided  for, 
exposed  to  all  the  vicissitudes  and  cares  of  life.  He 
was  a  sinner,  like  other  men;  and  though  sin  did 
not  appear,  sin  was  felt:  where  this  detestable  evil 
works  and  struggles,  it  must  embitter  the  spirit  and 
hurt  the  peace  of  a  holy  man,  and  the  holier  he  is, 
the  sooner  his  peace  is  broken.  Hence  an  apostle 
was  constrained  to  cry,  '  O  wretched  man  that  I  am, 
who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death!' 
Your  pastor  did  the  same.  His  wife,  seeing  him 
look  not  so  happy,  one  day  just  before  his  death, 
asked  him  how  he  was;  he  said,  "  not  very  comfort- 
able."  «  What   makes  you  so  uncomfortable,  my 

dear,  have  you  not  God  for  your  friend?" — "Ah! 
(he  replied)  I  am  so  unworthy — I  am  very  unwor- 
thy." A  deep  sense  of  these  things  will  often  urge  the 


REV.   CHARLES  BUCK.  363 

exclamation  of  the  text  even  from  the  best  of  men. 
They  must  feel  all  the  vibrations  of  mind,  and  all 
the  contrary  and  peculiar  influences  arising  from 
their  present  condition.  A  wife  and  a  Saviour, 
children  about  me,  and  heaven  above  me.  This 
world  with  its  allurements,  celestial  glory  with  its 
attractions;  the  old  man  with  his  affections  and 
lusts,  the  new  man  created  anew  in  Christ  Jesus, 
all  operating  with  different  and  even  hostile  tenden- 
cies, will  often  force  the  believer  thus  to  address 
his  soul,  "  Return  unto  thy  rest."  Perhaps  it  was 
under  these  sensations  that  the  text  came  with 
peculiar  emphasis  to  the  mind  of  our  departed 
friend  and  brother.  And  considering  at  the  same 
time  the  innumerable  mercies,  temporal  and  spiritu- 
al, which  had  crowned  his  life,  he  felt  the  impulse 
of  gratitude,  and  immediately  added,  "  for  the  Lord 
liath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee." 

"2.  The  text  may  be  taken  as  admonitory  to  his 
widow.  My  dear  sister,  sincerely  do  I  pity  you. 
You  have  known  what  the  pain  of  separation  and 
dissolution  of  connubial  ties  are.  You  are  now  as  it 
were  at  sea  and  in  a  storm.  Your  situation  is  peril- 
ous, and  your  mind  may  be  agitated  to  excess. 
How  suitable  then  is  the  admonition  to  you,  my 
friend.  Your  husband  is  gone  to  heaven.  You,  I 
trust,  have  a  place  there  also.  Your  God  liveth.  He 
is  the  husband  of  the  widow,  all  your  resources  are 
in  him,  and  he  can  make  all  grace  to  abound. 
Nothing  is  so  calculated  to  bear  up  your  mind, 
and  exalt  your  spirit,  and  compose  your  frame,  as 
the  recollection  of  this  text,  "  Return  unto  thy  rest, 


364i  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

O  my  soul."  You  had  much  pleasure  in  your  hus- 
band, but  there  is  infinitely  more  to  be  derived 
from  your  God  and  Saviour.  Your  husband  is  dead, 
and  only  the  recollections  of  your  former  joys  re- 
main. "  But  blessed  be  my  rock,"  return  unto  your 
rest.  Trust  God's  care,  and  you  shall  prove  it;  trust 
God's  promise,  it  shall  support  you;  trust  God's 
arm,  it  shall  bear  you  up;  trust  God's  Son,  he  shall 
be  your  salvation;  trust  God's  spirit,  he  will  give  you 
wisdom  to  manage  your  affairs  with  discretion,  and 
govern  your  family  with  prudence.  You  now  want 
the  strength  of  two  minds  in  one.  God  can  give  it. 
You  want  a  masculine  mind;  you  want  a  decided  and 
persevering  mind.  "  But  I  am  the  widow's  God,"  he 
says,  u  be  that  your  staff,  that  your  rest." 

"  3.  The  text  is  admonitory  to  his  children.  My 
dear  young  friends,  I  have  just  been  following  your 
affectionate  parent  to  heaven,  and  have  imagined 
that  while  he  looks  upon  the  face  of  Jesus,  and  of 
many  of  his  beloved  people  who  went  before  him, 
he  casts  an  eye  to  the  vacant  mansions  there,  to 
see  if  any  were  reserved  for  his  beloved  children, 
looking  for  Charles's  and  Thomas's  and  Samuel's 
seat.  For  you  he  prayed;  you  he  admonished;  for 
you  he  wept,  laboured,  and  felt.  My  dear  children, 
he  is  now  happy;  and  methinks  I  hear  the  voice  of 
the  Eternal  addressing  him  in  this  language,  4  I  will 
be  a  God  to  thy  seed.'  O  realize  the  delightful 
vision.  Return  to  the  only  adequate  rest  of  an  im- 
mortal nature.  Say,  '  my  father  is  in  heaven,  my 
mother  is  going  thither,  a  multitude  of  my  young 
friends  have  the  same  destiny  in  view,  and   how 


REV.  CHARLES  BUCK.  365 

will  my  father  look,  if  at  the  judgment  day,  he  shall 
stand  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  see  any  of  us 
at  the  left.  If  happy  spirits  could  tremble  there,  it 
would  be  at  such  a  sight  as  this.' 

"  4.  The  text  may  be  admonitory  to  you  his 
church.  My  dear  friends,  you  stand  in  a  peculiar 
relation  to  him.  You  were  originally  gathered  to- 
gether under  him;  many  of  you  from  the  wilderness 
of  this  wicked  world,  and  others  were  as  sheep 
without  any  regular  shepherd,  until  he  came  and 
preached  to  you.  I  shall  never  forget  the  aptitude 
of  his  mind  to  carry  any  thing  into  execution.  We 
were  one  day  together,  and  our  conversation  was 
directed  to  the  chapel  in  Princes  Street,  and  how 
badly  they  were  going  on  there.  I  observed,  I  think, 
it  would  make  an  excellent  place  for  an  independent 
congregation,  if  some  good  man  would  take  it.  He 
did  not  open  his  mouth  to  me  at  the  time;  but  the 
first  thing  I  heard  upon  the  subject  after  this  was 
that  Mr.  Buck  had  taken  Princes  Street  Chapel, 
was  preaching  to  the  3,  and   in  eight  months 

had  formed  a  church.  He  afterwards  told  me,  that 
he  silently  took  the  hint,  and  acted  upon  it  imme- 
diately. You  are  the  fruits  of  his  labours.  You 
have  lost  one  of  the  best  of  pastors.  You  will  be 
well  off  if  you  get  almost  such  a  one.  God  is  able 
to  make  his  mercies  abound  towards  you.  Return 
him  the  whole.  Be  wise,  be  prudent,  be  united,  be 
of  one  mind,  one  spirit,  one  heart;  let  there  not  be 
amongst  you  many  masters,  let  there  be  no  wild 
opinions,  but  maintain  the  unity  of  the  faith.  You 
have  suffered  by  his   illness,  do  not  suffer  by  his 


366  MEMOIRS  OF  THE 

death.   God  will  appear  for   you,  if  your  eyes   are 
directed  to  him." 

To  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  Mr.  Buck's  Me- 
moirs present  an  alluring  example;  and  his  early 
departure  from  the  field  of  labour,  reads  to  survi- 
vors a  most  impressive  lesson.  We  must  soon,  very 
soon  follow  him  to  the  great  tribunal,  let  us  thea 
walk  in  his  steps.  To  be  active  and  useful,  is  to  be 
happy.  He  who  is  incessantly  labouring  in  his 
Master's  cause,  bears  the  eternal  mark  upon  him 
that  he  belongs  to  God,  and  may  fearlessly  exclaim, 
"  I  am  free  of  the  universe,  and  I  am  ready  to  go 
to  any  world  to  which  my  Redeemer  may  command 
me,  certain,  that  every  where,  in  height  or  depth, 
he  will  acknowledge  me  for  ever." 


.yaci 


On  page  129  we  inadvertently  copied  an  error 
from  the  English  edition.  In  line  16  from  the  top 
read  justifying  for  justified;  and  in  17,  justified  for 
justifying. 


JUST  PUBLISHED, 

BY  ANTHONY  FINLEY, 

JVf.  33,  South  Fourth-street,  Philadelphia,— {Price  $3.) 

THE  THEORY 

OF 

MORAL    SENTIMENTS; 

OH, 

AN  ESSAY 

Towards  an  analysis  of  the  principles  by  which  men  naturally  judge 
concerning  the  conduct  ancLcharacter,  first  of  their  neighbours,  and 
afterwards  of  themselves. 

To  which  is  added, 
A  DISSERTATION  ON  THE  ORIGIN  OF  LANGUAGES. 

BY  ADAM  SMITH,  LL.  D.  F.  R.  S. 

FIItST  A5IK11ICAN  FROM  THE  TWELFTH  EDINBURGH  EDITION. 

PART  L. 

Of  the  Propriety  of  Action. 

Section  I. — Of  the  Sense  of  Propriety. 

Section  II. — Of  the  Degrees  of  the  different  Pas- 
sions which   are  consistent  with  Propriety. 

Section  III. — Of  the  Effects  of  Prosperity  and 
Adversity  upon  the  Judgment  of  Mankind  with 
regard  to  the  Propriety  of  Action;  and  why  it 
is  more  easy  to  obtain  their  Approbation  in  the 
One  State  than  in  the  Other. 

PART  II. 

Of  Merit  and  Demerit;  or,  of  the  Objects  of  Re- 
ward and  Punishment. 

Section  I. — Of  the  Sense  of  Merit  and  Demerit. 

Section  II. — Of  Justice  and  Beneficence. 

Section  III. — Of  the  Influence  of  Fortune  upon 
the  Sentiments  of  Mankind,  with  Regard  to  the 
Merit  or  Dement  of  Actions. 


PART  III. 

Of  the  Foundation  of  our  Judgments  concerning 
our  own  Sentiments  and  Conduct,  anoV  of  the 
Sense  of  Duty. 

PART  IV. 

Of  the  Effect  of  Utility  upon  the  Sentiment  of  Ap- 
probation. 

PART  V. 

Of  the  Influence  of  Custom  and  Fashion  upon  the 
Sentiments  of  Moral  Approbation  and  Disappro- 
bation, 

PART  VI. 

On  the  Character  of  Virtue. 

Section  I. — Of  the  Character  of  the  Individual,  so 
far  as  it  affects  his^  own  Happiness;  or  of  Pru- 
dence. 

Section  II. — Of  the  Character  of  the  Individual, 
so  far  as  it  can  affect  the  Happiness  of  Other 
People. 

Section  III. — Of  Self-Command. 

PART  VII. 

Of  Systems  of  Moral  Philosophy. 

Section  I. — Of  the  Questions  which  ought  to  be 
Examined  in  a  Theory  of  Moral  Sentiments. 

Section  II. — Of  the  Different  Accounts  which 
have  been  given  of  the  Nature  of  Virtue. 

Section  III. — Of  the  Different  Systems  which  have 
been  formed  concerning  the  Principle  of  Appro- 
bation. 

Section  IV. — Of  the  Manner  in  which  different 
Authors  have  treated  of  the  Practical  Rules  of 
Morality. 

Considerations  concerning  the  First  Formation 
of  Languages,  &c. 


A.  F.  HAS  ALSO  JUST  PUBLISIIRD, 

A  DICTIONARY 

OF 

Select  and  Popular  ((flotations, 

Which  are  in  constant  use;  taken  from  the  Latin,  French,  Spanish. 
Italian  and  Greek  languages,  translated  into  English,  with  Illustra- 
tions, historical  and  idiomatic. 

BY  D.  E.  MACDONNEL, 

OF  THE  MIDDLE  TEMPLE. 

Second  American  edition,  corrected,  with  copious  additions. 
Indocti  discant,  anient  tneminisse  periti. 

This  compilation  is  intended  chiefly  for  the  assist- 
ance of  the  English  reader  (though  its  utility  is  by- 
no  means  confined  to  such)  who,  not  being  acquaint- 
ed with  other  languages,  is  interrupted  and  embar- 
rassed (even  in  the  perusal  of  the  newspapers)  by 
such  phrases  as  bellum  internecinum, — hors  de  com- 
bat,— sine  qua  non, — -je  ne  sais  quoi, — uti  posside- 
tis, &c.  &c.  which,  with  many  thousands  of  others 
of  greater  length,  will  be  found  in  this  work,  and 
the  reference  is  as  easy  as  to  any  abstruse  word  in 
Johnson's  Dictionary.  To  such  readers  this  work 
will  give  information  not  to  be  found  elsezvhere. 

Annexed  is  a  specimen  of  the  work, 

Impendam  et  expendar.  Lat.  "  I  will  spend  and 
be  spent"  in  pursuit  of  this  object. 

Imperium  in  Imperio*  Lat.  "  A  government  ex- 
isting under  another  government."  This  is  the  i  Na- 
tion in  which  each  of  our  States  stands  to  the  Fe- 
deral government. 

Impotentia  excusat  legem.  Lat.  law  maxim.  u  Im- 
potency  does  away  the  law" — men  in  prison,  idioti, 
and  lunatics,  are  excused,  from  their  inability,  for 
the  non-performance  of  acts,  which  the  law  requires 
of  oth$jw-» 


Indocti  discant,  anient  memimsse  periti.  Lat.  •'  The 
ignorant  may  learn,  and  the  learned  improve  their 
recollection." — This  is  a  motto  frequently  prefixed 
to  works  of  a  general  and  useful  tendency. 

In  extenso.  Lat.  "  At  large — in  full." 

Ingenuas  didicisse  Jideliter  artes. 

Emollit  mores,  nee  sinit  esse  feros.   Lat.  Ovid. 

44  To  have  studied  carefully  the  liberal  arts  is 
the  surest  mode  of  refining  the  grossness,  and  sub- 
duing the  harshness  of  the  human  mind." 

In  perpetnam  ret  memoriam.  Lat.  "  To  perpe- 
tuate the  memory  of  the  thing." 

In  statu  quo,  Lat.  u  In  the  state  in  which."  The 
condition  of  any  nation,  as  to  territorial  possessions, 
at  any  previous  time — with  ante  bellumy  before  the 
war  commenced. 

In  terrorem,  Lat.   "  In  terror" — as  a  warning. 

jfe  ne  sais  quoi.  Fr.  "  I  kno*v  not  what."  Lrsed 
to  express  something  that  will  not  admit  of  descrip- 
tion. 

Jeu  de  ?nots.  Fr.  "  A  play  on  words."  Jeu  dyes- 
prit.  "  A  witticism." 

Judex  damnatur  cum  nocens  absolvitor.  Lat. 
"  The  judge  is  found  guilty  when  a  criminal  is  ac- 
quitted." 

Jure  divino.  Lat.   "  By  divine  right." 

Judicandum  est  legibus  non  exemplis.  Lat.  law 
maxim.  "  The  judgment  must  be  pronounced  from 
law,  not  from  precedents." 

Jus  gentium.  Lat.  "  The  law  of  nations." 

La  maladie  sans  maladie.  Fr.  "  The  disease  with- 
out a  disease" — the  hypochondriasis. 

Lapsus  lingua.  Lat.  "  A  slip  of  the  tongue" — 
an  error  in  speaking. 

Laudum  immensa  cupido.  Lat.  u  The  insatiate 
thirst  for  applause." 


UNIVEESITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY, 
BERKELEY 


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